The strategic importance of the Arctic and High North to UK security was raised in Westminster Hall this week, with MPs warning that changes in the region have direct implications for Britain’s defence, energy security and critical infrastructure.
Opening the debate, Graeme Downie, Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, told MPs that geography placed the UK at the centre of emerging competition in the region. He said that distance from the fighting in Ukraine could create a false sense of security, despite growing activity closer to home.
“We sit at the gateway to one of the most vital pieces of real estate on the planet: the High North and the Arctic,” Downie said, adding that this position gave the UK “outsized importance, but also puts us at potential threat.”
He cited recent analysis highlighting challenges to the rules-based international order in the Arctic, noting that melting ice was opening new shipping routes and access to natural resources. Downie warned that developments in the region were not abstract and had real-world consequences for the UK.
Referring to subsea infrastructure, he said: “The subsea cables and energy assets in the North sea are not abstract; they are national lifelines underpinning energy supply, jobs and our digital economy.” He added that disruption would have immediate consequences across the country and relayed concerns raised by industry, quoting one senior figure who asked: “If a Russian submarine appears next to one of our installations, who do I call?”
Downie argued that Russia and China were both expanding their activity in the region. “Russia seeks to dominate the Arctic routes militarily and economically, while China positions itself as a near-Arctic state investing in infrastructure and shipping lanes to secure influence over future trade corridors,” he said.
He also warned that any future settlement in Ukraine would not necessarily reduce the threat to Europe. “The peace that we all want to see in Ukraine would not reduce the threat to the UK; it could increase it,” Downie told MPs, adding that Moscow could redeploy capabilities elsewhere, including the High North. The recent seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker operating as part of what governments describe as the shadow fleet was cited as an example of effective allied cooperation. Downie said he supported the action but cautioned that it highlighted the need for the UK to act independently when required. “The UK must show that it can defend its interests in the area alone as well as with our allies,” he said.
Other MPs intervening in the debate raised concerns about Russian and Chinese activity, European reliance on Russian LNG, and the security of the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap. Downie agreed that the UK and its allies needed to respond with credible capability rather than rhetoric. Concluding his remarks, he warned against complacency. “We must always remember that Putin will respond to actions, not words, and we cannot afford to sleepwalk unprepared into a geopolitical High North and Arctic,” he said.
There seems to be a lot of focus on the high north in Westminster; the Foreign Secretary visited Camp Viking this week too.
Not sure what it means.
This MP is he an expert? or did wake up and think its now a problem?. Relax we will have a project some where covering it. World leader in projects and focus groups about defence and window shoping/.
Perhaps we could develop a self contained amphibious brigade with its own helicopter lift, artillery, logistics support and shipping. The entire force could be artic trained and work with allies such as the Dutch.
🤣🤣 sarcasm you can’t beat it.
We could also build top of range anti-submarine frigates to hunt Russian subs😉
Add say a dozen or so subs including some SSKs and two dozen MPAs. Compliment with some drones uncrewed vessels and you have probably covered the UKs maritime back door.