The Scottish National Party has called for closer security cooperation with European allies following reports of Russian submarine activity near undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic, according to the party.
The comments follow a UK-led operation in which an Akula-class submarine and two specialist Russian submarines linked to seabed operations were tracked over several weeks by Royal Navy and RAF assets, supported by NATO partners.
Responding to the development, SNP candidate for Dundee City East and Chair of the APPG on Russia, Stephen Gethins, said: “We have long known the threat posed by Russia in the high north, including in Scotland’s waters.” He added that the incident reinforces the need for sustained focus on maritime and air capabilities in northern regions.
Gethins pointed to the operational importance of the High North and surrounding waters, arguing that investment in surveillance and response capabilities remains uneven. “That is why we have consistently called for defence of that region to be taken seriously and for greater investment in air and maritime security in Scotland,” he said.
While acknowledging the reported response by UK forces, he said: “The Navy appears to have responded quickly and effectively,” but added that broader strategic alignment remained a concern.
“It is of critical importance to recognise that the UK has left itself less secure by remaining isolated from democratic Europe at a time when our allies on the continent pull closer together on security in the face of the modern Russian threat,” he said.
“It is long past time we deepened our security ties with our allies in Europe,” Gethins added.
However, that position was challenged by Graeme Downie MP, who argued that existing UK-led and allied frameworks already provide an established basis for cooperation in the High North.
“The fact the SNP doesn’t seem to have heard of JEF as the primary focus for cooperation for High North defence shows they are not a serious party when it comes to national security,” he said, referring to the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force.
The Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) is a UK-led multinational framework bringing together ten Northern European nations, including Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and the Baltic states. It is designed for rapid deployment and focuses on security in the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic regions, with regular exercises and coordinated operations aimed at responding to regional threats, including Russian submarine activity.
The UK routinely operates alongside these partners through JEF, as well as through NATO and bilateral arrangements, particularly with Norway. These activities include anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol and the protection of critical undersea infrastructure.
He added: “They have ignored defence issues and the defence sector for the last time 20 years so this lack of knowledge should come as no surprise.”
That the SNP, who are full on CND, not pro NATO, and would close the Navy Base, just checking,
‘Remaining isolated from a democratic Europe’, who is this turnip? I say that as someone who voted Remain. What has Russian sub activity got to do with that odd statement. We are not isolated given our alliances with Norway and others on the high North. The Russian activity is also a threat to Scotland and he just can’t admit that the most effective response to a UK problem is a UK response, ie the British military/ Royal Navy with Scotland being part of it. Instead he has to make a non case that the UK hobbles Scotland on security because we are outcasts.
No he cannot do that because it would show that UK cohesiveness is a key part of security… where as Europe as a security blanket can allow for small
Er independent nations to be secure.. which completely ignores the fact that ENATO security will be utterly dependent on large nations.. with the little Nations able to contribute very little.
Surely this is exactly what NATO is for? For as long as it stays intact of course…
No idea what’s in the Defence Investment Programme. But surely it would be a good idea to order 3 or 4 more P-8s right now? I’d like more frigates of course but the yards are maxed out for years and we wouldn’t be able to crew them even if we could magic them from no where. A small increase in the number of MPA would be achievable and given their versatility for other roles would be useful for a variety of missions, including humanitarian and rescue.