Oral Question·Ministry of Defence
“What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of UK defence resources in the High North.”
Tabled: 27 January 2026Answered: 2 February 2026
Asked by
Mr Alistair Carmichael
Liberal Democrat — Orkney and Shetland
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Defence
Answer from Hansard
The Secretary of State for Defence (John Healey)
As the strategic defence review sets out, the High North is becoming more important to the UK and our NATO allies, as it becomes more accessible through climate change. We have Royal Navy deployments in the High North and Royal Marines undertaking cold weather training in Norway, as well as Ranger exercises in Sweden and Finland. We will continue to step up on Arctic security alongside our NATO and JEF allies.