Norway and the UK have entered into their most extensive defense cooperation agreement in recent times.
The new and comprehensive agreement is titled “Lunna House” after the house that the Shetland bus, a clandestine special operations group, used as their headquarters during the Second World War.
“The aim is for Norway and the UK to be even closely connected militarily to strengthen NATO’s northern flank and presence in the North Atlantic. It will provide increased security for Norway, the UK and our allies in uncertain times,” says Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor) in a press release.
The cooperation between the two countries includes closer integration of Norwegian and British forces, cooperation on the purchase and operation of new frigates, rapid reinforcement of Norway in times of crisis and war, and joint drone projects in the High North.
A bigger role
A key point of the agreement involves British forces having a greater role in the defense of Norway.
British Royal Marines will have a greater degree of presence. By extension, Norway and the UK will consider the possibility of pre-storing British defense equipment and ammunition on Norwegian soil.
The two countries will also consider the need to establish facilities to receive British forces in Norway.
“Royal Marines have a long tradition of practicing winter operations with naval and amphibious forces in Inner Troms, Northern Norway. In the future, they will train in Norway during the other seasons as well. By being more present in Norway, the Royal Marines will be more closely integrated into the defense of Norway, and they will be able to come to our aid quickly if a crisis or war situation should arise,” says Norway’s Minister of Defense, Tore O. Sandvik.