Oral Question·Ministry of Defence
“What steps he is taking to protect British interests in the High North.”
Tabled: 13 October 2026Answered: 19 October 2026
Asked by
Patricia Ferguson
Labour — Glasgow West
Answering Minister
the Secretary of State for Defence
Answer from Hansard
The Minister for the Armed Forces (Louise Sandher-Jones)
The UK is stepping up its defence of the High North. This year, our carrier strike group operated in the region, alongside 19 NATO allies, and 1,500 of our Royal Marines have trained in Arctic conditions. We are also doubling our military presence in Norway, investing in key anti-submarine warfare and undersea surveillance capabilities, and our carrier strike group will be returning shortly to NATO’s northern flank.