Maritime Capability Coalition Launch

Monday 11th December 2023 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Defence (Grant Shapps)]

I am pleased to inform the House of the UK’s launch of the maritime capability coalition (MCC), alongside Norway, which represents a step change in the UK’s support for Ukraine in both defending against Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion and in developing Ukraine’s maritime capabilities for the future.

The MCC will focus on the task of developing a Ukrainian maritime force capable of defending Ukraine’s maritime flank and deterring Russia. This will require our collective effort and resource, including through the provision of training, doctrine, information, infrastructure or the procurement of equipment and ammunition. The future security and prosperity of Ukraine depend upon it.

The MCC initiative reinforces our collective long-term commitment to Ukraine and provides a permanent mechanism through which we can support the development of Ukraine’s maritime capability, ensuring coherence, unity of effort, prioritisation of resource and synchronisation of activity.

The UK and our allies have been clear we will not stand by as the Kremlin persists in its disregard for the sovereignty of Ukraine and international law. This includes the recognition of Ukraine’s sovereignty over its territorial waters which is established in accordance with international maritime law.

The MCC will be UK-led, alongside Norway, but will be international in nature with other nations contributing to the programme.

[HCWS112]