Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Patricia Ferguson and Louise Sandher-Jones

Monday 19th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow West) (Lab)]

11. What steps he is taking to protect British interests in the High North.

[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.

[Patricia Ferguson]

The North Atlantic, High North and Baltic are the frontline of the UK’s security, which is why British leadership of the joint expeditionary force is so vital to our defence. Will the Minister update the House on the recent meetings of the joint expeditionary force counterparts in Iceland, and on the major exercises that have taken place across the region?

[Louise Sandher-Jones]

We are rightly proud of the work that we are doing with partner nations in the JEF. In July this year, the carrier strike group deployed to the High North, working alongside 19 NATO allies, and is due back this autumn. The UK has recently taken command of NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk, which oversees all NATO operations across the High North, and the Royal Marines took part in Exercise Cold Response, alongside approximately 25,000 personnel from 14 allied nations.