UK, Norway Form Joint Warship Fleet to Track Russian Submarines Under New Defence Pact

The United Kingdom and Norway have launched a joint naval fleet designed to track and deter Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic, as part of a new defence pact announced on Thursday. The agreement comes amid rising concerns over threats to critical undersea infrastructure and a notable increase in Russian naval presence in UK waters.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated that sightings of Russian vessels around the UK have risen 30% over the past two years, heightening the need for coordinated maritime security.

13 British-Built Frigates to Be Operated Jointly

Under the pact, the two nations will operate a combined fleet of 13 British-built Type-26 frigates on an “interchangeable” basis. The ships will patrol strategically important waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom—a region vital for monitoring Russian submarine movements.

The mission will focus on safeguarding undersea cables, pipelines, and other infrastructure that carry communications, electricity and gas—assets Western officials believe could be targeted as part of Moscow’s hybrid warfare tactics.

The announcement coincided with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s joint visit to a Royal Air Force base in northern Scotland.

Norway’s £10 Billion Purchase of Type-26 Frigates

Norway had earlier announced the purchase of at least five Type-26 frigates from Britain for £10 billion ($13 billion), strengthening its maritime capabilities and deepening defence ties between the two NATO allies.

Rising Concerns Over Russian Activity

Prime Minister Starmer said the pact was essential amid “profound global instability,” adding that increased Russian activity near UK waters required heightened vigilance.

Last month, UK Defence Minister John Healey issued a warning to Moscow after the Russian military vessel Yantar entered British waters for the second time in 2025. The ship reportedly directed lasers at British air force pilots, an act Healey called “deeply dangerous.”

NATO allies have repeatedly raised alarms about potential Russian threats to offshore infrastructure, especially after suspected sabotage of multiple undersea communication and power cables in recent months. Several security experts have accused Moscow of waging a hybrid war against Western nations supporting Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

The new UK–Norway pact underscores growing regional cooperation to counter maritime threats and secure key strategic waterways in the North Atlantic.