‘We must strengthen Arctic defences,’ UK Foreign Secretary says during Arctic visit

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has called on NATO to enhance its presence and activity in the Arctic, emphasising that “Arctic security is critical to protecting Britain and NATO.” Her statement came during a visit to Finland and Norway, as part of a tour aimed at reinforcing UK commitments to regional defence and addressing growing threats in the High North.

Travelling through the Arctic Circle, Cooper underscored the strategic importance of the region, citing its key shipping routes and vital infrastructure such as undersea cables. She warned that hostile states, including Russia, are seeking to exert influence in the area and stressed the need for a coordinated NATO response.

– “Britain is stepping up on Arctic security. With our allies we are working to strengthen Arctic defences and deter any attempts from the likes of Vladimir Putin to threaten our interests and our infrastructure. As climate change opens the Arctic, the region will become an ever more critical frontier for NATO,” said the Foreign Secretary.

During her visit, Cooper met Finnish Border Guards stationed along NATO’s eastern flank with Russia, and observed UK Royal Marines engaged in cold-weather training exercises at Camp Viking in Norway – a key base for the UK Commando Force.

The Foreign Secretary also pointed to recent defence initiatives, including the UK’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027, with a goal of 3% in the following parliament. These investments, she said, reaffirm Britain’s leadership in NATO and its long-standing cooperation with Arctic allies.

– “The UK has a long and committed bond with our Allies in the Arctic Circle. Our world class Royal Marine Commandos have been training alongside Nordic partners for over half a century. This government is reinforcing our diplomatic and security commitment to the region,” she added.

– “We see it as our responsibility and our duty to tackle these challenges head on, making us all safer in the process. Arctic security is a critical transatlantic partnership issue for the security of Britain and NATO. Coming together as an alliance allows us to unify and tackle this emerging threat.”

In recent weeks, UK-Nordic defence cooperation has intensified. The UK and Norway have signed a new defence agreement enabling joint naval operations in the North Atlantic to safeguard infrastructure from Russian submarines. Additionally, UK forces supported a U.S. operation to interdict the vessel Bella 1, suspected of engaging in illegal “Shadow Fleet” activity.

Russia remains the greatest threat to Arctic security, according to the UK government, through militarisation, threats to undersea infrastructure, and the use of covert maritime assets. As climate change opens new sea routes and exposes resources, the region is increasingly becoming a geopolitical hotspot.

The UK continues to lead within the Joint Expeditionary Force, a coalition of ten nations committed to Arctic security. The JEF recently held its largest-ever operation, Tarassis, involving over 1,700 British troops and extensive multinational military assets across the High North.