Norway and the United Kingdom have signed a new bilateral defence agreement. The agreement covers joint naval capacity, an expanded presence of British troops in Norway, and cooperation on drones, anti-submarine warfare, and the protection of underwater infrastructure.
According to the Norwegian government, the agreement, known as Lunna House, is intended to strengthen defence capabilities in the North Atlantic and contribute to increased readiness in the event of a crisis or conflict. The cooperation includes the integration of the Norwegian and British navies, joint exercises, and the shared use of vessels, technology, and crews.
"Norway and the United Kingdom are to be bound even more closely together militarily, in order to strengthen NATO's northern flank and presence in the North Atlantic. This provides greater security for Norway, the United Kingdom, and our allies at a troubled time," said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in the press release.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the agreement means that the two countries will operate a joint fleet of Type-26 frigates, comprising eight British and at least five Norwegian vessels, with the mission of monitoring Russian submarine movements, protecting undersea cables, and safeguarding other critical infrastructure. Both countries will share maintenance facilities and participate in joint exercises and operations in the North Atlantic and the Arctic.
The agreement also covers new projects for drones and autonomous systems, with a particular focus on surveillance in the High North. Lessons learned from the joint maritime support capability provided to Ukraine will be used to develop low-cost drones and unmanned systems for mine clearance and underwater operations. The United Kingdom will also join Norway's programme to develop unmanned motherships.
"We are committed to binding the Norwegian and British navies more closely together than ever before. This means sharing vessels, technology, and crews, but also building joint capabilities to meet the threats in the north," said Norwegian Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik.
The agreement also provides for an expanded year-round presence of British Royal Marines in Norway, not limited to winter exercises. Pre-positioning of British materiel in Norway and the development of joint anti-submarine warfare capabilities are included in the broader cooperation.
British Secretary of State for Defence John Healey highlighted the agreement as part of the government's commitment to stronger European defence alliances.
"Through this agreement, we will patrol the North Atlantic together, train in the Arctic, and develop advanced equipment that protects our citizens, now and in the future," he said in the British press release.
The name Lunna House refers to the historic resistance base on the Shetland Islands that was used by the so-called Shetland Bus operation during the Second World War, a collaboration between British and Norwegian forces.