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UK and Norway start Arctic defense pact talks

20 February 2025 23:00 (UTC +04:00)

The U.K. and Norway began negotiations Thursday on a defense deal aimed at countering the threat from Russia in the Arctic, APA reports citing Politico.

British Defense Secretary John Healey met his Norwegian counterpart Tore Sandvik at the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, a fortress tunneled deep into the side of a mountain near the northern town of Bodø just above the Arctic Circle.

The defense agreement will see closer working between the two nations' armed forces, including protecting undersea cables from sabotage. Since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, ships traveling to or from Russian ports have been suspected of severing key European infrastructure links — whether by accident or sabotage — particularly in the Baltic Sea.

Healey said: “Norway remains one of the U.K.’s most important allies. We will create a new era of defense partnership to bring us closer than ever before as we tackle increasing threats, strengthen NATO, and boost our security in the High North.

“The U.K. is determined to play a leadership role on European security, supporting the foundations for our security and prosperity at home and showing our adversaries that we are united in our determination to protect our interests.”