In a decisive move to counter a surge in Russian naval activity, the United Kingdom and Norway have unveiled a sweeping defense pact, pledging joint operations in the North Atlantic aimed at safeguarding undersea infrastructure and bolstering NATO’s northern flank. The Lunna House Agreement, announced on December 4, 2025, arrives amid a documented 30 percent increase in Russian naval movements near UK waters over the past two years—a trend that has set off alarm bells in both London and Oslo.
The agreement was formally revealed during Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s visit to RAF Lossiemouth in northern Scotland, where he joined UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to meet maritime patrol crews actively tracking Russian vessels such as the intelligence ship Yantar. The Yantar, operated by Russia’s Ministry of Defence, has long drawn Western scrutiny for its suspected missions to map undersea cables, and was recently accused of using lasers to disrupt RAF pilots, according to reporting by BBC.
At the heart of the Lunna House Agreement lies an ambitious plan for the navies of both NATO members to operate a fully interoperable fleet of British-built Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates. This collaboration, as described by the UK Government and detailed by the UK Defence Journal, is designed not only to monitor Russian submarine movements, but also to protect the vast network of undersea pipelines and data cables that connect Britain to its North Sea neighbors and underpin the nation’s communications and energy systems.
Prime Minister Starmer, addressing the urgency of the situation, remarked, “At this time of profound global instability, as more Russian ships are being detected in our waters, we must work with international partners to protect our national security. This historic agreement with Norway strengthens our ability to protect our borders and the critical infrastructure our nations depend on.” His Norwegian counterpart echoed the sentiment, with Defence Minister Tore O Sandvik declaring that the two countries would “defend themselves together.”
The pact builds on a landmark £10 billion warship deal signed in September, under which Norway ordered at least five Type 26 frigates—joining the UK’s own eight-ship program. According to the UK Government, this represents the largest British warship export contract to date, supporting more than 4,000 jobs and cementing the two nations’ industrial and technological ties.
The combined fleet, expected to total at least 13 anti-submarine ships (with no fewer than five from Norway), will patrol the strategic waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK. Their mission: to monitor Russian naval movements, defend seabed cables and pipelines, and deter potential acts of sabotage that could cripple British communications, electricity, and gas networks. As highlighted in a September report from the National Security Strategy Committee, attacks on such undersea infrastructure could cause “catastrophic disruption” to the financial and communications systems on which the UK relies.
Defence Secretary John Healey, framing the effort as part of a broader shift toward reinforced northern security, stated, “In this new era of threat and with increasing Russian activity in the North Atlantic, our strength comes from hard power and strong alliances.” He added, “For over 75 years, the UK and Norway have stood shoulder to shoulder on NATO’s northern flank, defending Europe and keeping our people safe. This partnership takes us further, making our nations more secure at home and strong abroad.”
The Lunna House Agreement is named after the Shetland Isles base used by the Norwegian resistance during World War II—a nod to the deep historical ties between the two nations. But the partnership is about more than just warships. The agreement expands industrial and technological links, with London joining Norway’s program to develop offshore support vessels that will serve as motherships for uncrewed minehunting and undersea-warfare systems. This move, as reported by the UK Defence Journal, is expected to accelerate the shift toward autonomous capability in the High North, an area NATO has identified as increasingly exposed to Russian undersea activity.
Other measures in the agreement include year-round Royal Marines cold-weather training in Norway, expanded collaboration on UK-built Sting Ray torpedoes to boost munitions stockpiles, adoption of advanced Norwegian Naval Strike Missiles for Royal Navy ships (capable of taking out enemy vessels at ranges exceeding 160 kilometers), and joint wargaming initiatives intended to align operational planning between the two nations’ armed forces. The two countries are also leading NATO’s adoption of autonomous systems in the region, reflecting a recognition that technological edge is key to countering evolving threats.
During their visit to RAF Lossiemouth, Starmer and Støre met with UK and Norwegian troops working together and personally thanked them for their service over the Christmas period. They also heard firsthand from P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft crews who have been tracking Russian vessels, including the notorious Yantar, found in Scottish waters. According to BBC, Western officials suspect that part of Yantar’s mission has been to map undersea cables, and its activities have raised persistent concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.
Britain’s reliance on its network of undersea cables cannot be overstated; these cables carry the lion’s share of the nation’s data and are vital to its economic and security interests. The UK is also connected to Norway and other North Sea neighbors by crucial oil and gas pipelines—assets that have become increasingly attractive targets amid heightened tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defence has faced criticism from a parliamentary committee for being over-reliant on US defense resources and not being fully prepared to defend the UK and its overseas territories from military attack. The new UK-Norway alliance is widely seen as a strategic response to these vulnerabilities, aiming to build a more self-reliant and resilient northern security posture.
While the focus of the agreement is on countering Russian undersea threats, both governments have stressed that the partnership will also help to modernize their respective navies and defense industries. By sharing expertise, developing advanced equipment, and training together in challenging Arctic conditions, the UK and Norway hope to set a new standard for allied cooperation in a rapidly changing security environment.
The message from both London and Oslo is clear: as Russian naval activity intensifies and the stakes for critical infrastructure rise, the era of “business as usual” in the North Atlantic is over. Instead, a new model of allied interoperability and innovation is taking shape—one that seeks to ensure the safety and prosperity of both nations, and by extension, the broader NATO alliance.
With warships soon to be patrolling the icy waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK, and technological collaboration deepening by the day, the Lunna House Agreement stands as a testament to the enduring value of partnership in an uncertain world.