# JEF countries sign agreement on deepened naval cooperation

- Source: Nordic Defence Sector (https://nordicdefencesector.com)
- Canonical URL: https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/jef-countries-sign-agreement-on-deepened-maritime-cooperation
- Published: 2026-11-11
- Author: Jacob Wollheim
- Type: News · Section: Maritime · Country: international
- Language: en — machine translation from sv; the sv version is authoritative: https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/jef-countries-sign-agreement-on-deepened-maritime-cooperation.md
- Also available in: de (https://nordicdefencesector.com/de/article/jef-countries-sign-agreement-on-deepened-maritime-cooperation.md), dk (https://nordicdefencesector.com/dk/article/jef-countries-sign-agreement-on-deepened-maritime-cooperation.md), es (https://nordicdefencesector.com/es/article/jef-countries-sign-agreement-on-deepened-maritime-cooperation.md), fi (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fi/article/jef-countries-sign-agreement-on-deepened-maritime-cooperation.md), fr (https://nordicdefencesector.com/fr/article/jef-countries-sign-agreement-on-deepened-maritime-cooperation.md), it (https://nordicdefencesector.com/it/article/jef-countries-sign-agreement-on-deepened-maritime-cooperation.md), no (https://nordicdefencesector.com/no/article/jef-countries-sign-agreement-on-deepened-maritime-cooperation.md), pl (https://nordicdefencesector.com/pl/article/jef-countries-sign-agreement-on-deepened-maritime-cooperation.md)
- Primary source: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2026/november/10/20261011-jef-navies-deepen-maritime-integration-with-new-royal-navy-led-northern-navies-initiative
- Tags: joint expeditionary force, northern navies initiative, hms prince of wales, royal navy, nato, united kingdom, sweden, norway, finland, denmark, baltic sea, north atlantic

> The ten JEF countries have signed the Northern Navies Initiative agreement for deepened naval cooperation in the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea and northern sea areas, focusing on joint planning, unmanned systems and protection against hybrid threats. The aim is to be able to act collectively early in a crisis and, if necessary, transition to NATO command.

![General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, head of the Royal Navy, and Flag Commodore Kyrre Haugen, head of the Royal Norwegian Navy, sign the JEF Northern Navies Framework on board HMS Prince of Wales in Oslo.](https://imagedelivery.net/XO8UY-c6-LfWgEjQsN8IQw/ec2b2d61-db1e-4e28-d9fc-5e97f6ce2a00/public)
*General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, head of the Royal Navy, and Flag Commodore Kyrre Haugen, head of the Royal Norwegian Navy, sign the JEF Northern Navies Framework on board HMS Prince of Wales in Oslo. · Helene Synes / Forsvaret*

**The ten countries within the British-led defence cooperation group *Joint Expeditionary Force* (JEF) have signed an agreement on deepened naval cooperation. The initiative, the *Northern Navies Initiative*, is intended to improve the countries' ability to conduct joint operations in the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea and the northern maritime areas.**

The agreement was signed on 10 November aboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in Oslo, Norway, in connection with the *International Sea Power Conference*. The conference was part of the port visit that Nordic Defence Sector [previously reported on](https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/british-aircraft-carrier-visits-oslo-after-nordic-exercise).

The Royal Navy [states](https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2026/november/10/20261011-jef-navies-deepen-maritime-integration-with-new-royal-navy-led-northern-navies-initiative) that the cooperation covers joint planning and training, compatible equipment, and the ability to use each other's ports for maintenance and supply.

Part of the initiative concerns the integration of unmanned maritime systems and sensors, so that these can be used within other JEF countries' command and control systems. The cooperation also covers the protection of critical undersea infrastructure and the handling of hybrid threats.

The goal is for the JEF countries' naval forces to be able to act jointly at an early stage of a crisis and, if necessary, transition to NATO command. The agreement builds on a statement of intent presented in April 2026.

![HMS Prince of Wales docks in Oslo](https://imagedelivery.net/XO8UY-c6-LfWgEjQsN8IQw/3f211152-07c8-4408-4fd8-e68162bd8000/public)
*HMS Prince of Wales docks in Oslo*

## FAQ

**What does the Northern Navies Initiative signed by the JEF countries involve?**

The Northern Navies Initiative aims to improve the JEF countries' ability to conduct joint maritime operations in the North Atlantic, the Baltic Sea, and northern sea areas. The cooperation encompasses joint planning, training, compatible equipment, and the use of each other's ports for maintenance. The goal is early joint action in crisis situations, with the possibility of transitioning to NATO command. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-11.

**Where and when was the agreement on deepened maritime cooperation signed?**

The agreement was signed on 10 November aboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales in Oslo. The signing took place in connection with the International Sea Power Conference during the ship's port visit following a Nordic exercise. The initiative builds on a letter of intent presented as early as April 2026. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-11.

**What areas does the new maritime cooperation between the JEF countries cover?**

The cooperation covers the integration of unmanned maritime systems and sensors for use in other JEF countries' command systems, as well as protection of critical underwater infrastructure. It also includes managing hybrid threats and joint access to ports for maintenance and supply among the ten JEF countries. Last fact-checked: 2026-11-11.

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