The UK will deploy Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary assets to the upcoming NATO-led Exercise Joint Viking in March, Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed during a recent exchange in the House of Commons.
During the session, Graeme Downie raised concerns about the increasing strategic activity in the High North:
“US navy officials have reported increased Russian and Chinese patrols in the High North. Last week, the Danish navy announced plans to acquire three new Arctic patrol ships, and March will see one of the largest Exercise Joint Viking operations in NATO’s history. With these concerns in mind, will the Secretary of State confirm which UK assets will be involved in Joint Viking this year? What plans does he have to update the 2022 policy paper on the UK’s defence contribution in the High North?”
In response, Healey underscored the UK’s commitment to Arctic defence efforts, stating: “My hon. Friend is right about the High North. We will continue to maintain a strong defence profile and posture. Both the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary will be taking part in Exercise Joint Viking.”
Exercise Joint Viking is expected to be one of NATO’s largest Arctic exercises, reflecting the alliance’s strategic focus on countering Russian and Chinese activity in the region.
The exercise will test joint operational capabilities in extreme environments and is seen as essential to maintaining the security of the High North’s critical shipping lanes and undersea infrastructure.
Although Healey did not specify plans to update the 2022 policy paper on the UK’s contribution to Arctic defence, his comments reaffirmed the UK’s active involvement in NATO’s collective efforts.
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The usual vague statements based on hot air, and no indication of increasing assets that have recently been further eroded.
See above. DM hits it on the head.
For too long we have heard about one asset taking part in multiple exercises around the world… sorry, how many places can it be in at the same time?
The Cons were notorious for this but Labour are doing themselves no favours repeating the same tripe.
We need more Armed Forces and we need them now, across the board.
Furthermore, UKDJ need to call out the public statements that lack any credibility; you might find more of us willing to part with brass if you do your job properly.
Russia + China conducts Freedom of navigation exercise in international territory while the UK cowers in fear.
How many US, UK, France subs patrolling South China seas, and East China seas? We are concerned there is not enough or not?
This is a very interesting area for the avid PLAN follower, because for a very long time the PLAN have been hiding in plain sight as a true blue water navy…essentially its got huge blue water capacity but it’s not been using it… essentially being low profile and pretty much staying in its own back yard as it massively expanded and built capacity and capabilities. But over the last few years it’s very much started changing the character of what it’s doing with its sub sea Build programmes. Chinese build programmes are difficult because unlike every other nation they don’t… Read more »
The high North is a big chink in NATO’s armour. While the RN sees its main raison d’etre as sending a carrier group off through Suez to the Indo-Pacific, the Chinese navy has a far shorter route for submarine access to the north Atlantic shipping routes via the Arctic. The UK is the largest nation and principal naval power in North-West Europe, but we have very little naval powere we can deploy there. If only a third of our warships are at sea at any one time, we would have just one Astute on patrol, the other two being with… Read more »
To your point about the P8s , Canada operates North Atlantic patrols not only in Canadian areas but the North Atlantic in general as well . Once the new P8s arrive in a year or two for the RCAF, there will be improved kit detection and range and speed. The RAF is not alone in the North Atlantic.
Why concern about Russian subs in the Arctic? It’s their coastal waters. Should Russia be concerned about Royal Navy deployments around Scotland or in the English channel?