UK secures £10bn Norway warship deal as Russian submarines menace northern European sea

Sir Keir Starmer has secured a £10 billion deal to build at least five warships for Norway, strengthening European naval defences in the face of mounting Russian aggression.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the contract on Sunday, calling it an “important and historic moment for European security”. The deal ensures the Type 26 frigates will be built at BAE Systems’ yard in Govan, Glasgow, bolstering Scotland’s shipbuilding industry and securing thousands of jobs for the coming decade.

Britain faced stiff competition from Emmanuel Macron’s France, but Starmer’s personal intervention proved decisive. His visit to Oslo in May for the Joint Expeditionary Force summit, where he held key talks with Norwegian leaders, was critical in tipping the balance.

The agreement will see the UK and Norway jointly operate a fleet of at least 13 advanced anti-submarine ships, aimed at countering the rise in Russian naval activity across northern Europe. Five of the vessels will be Norwegian, but all will patrol alongside the Royal Navy in what defence chiefs describe as a major NATO asset.

Patrolling the northern passage has taken on new urgency since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Moscow’s deployment of spy vessels and nuclear submarines into European and British waters has raised alarm across NATO. Officials say the new joint fleet will be at the forefront of deterring and tracking these incursions.

Starmer learned of the breakthrough on Saturday during a call with Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Downing Street hailed the decision as “an historic moment” for European defence.

“This £10 billion deal is what our Plan for Change is about – creating jobs, driving growth and protecting national security for working people,” the prime minister said. “The export of our world-leading Type 26 frigates to Norway will support well-paid jobs up and down the United Kingdom, from apprentices to engineers. This success is testament to the thousands of people across the country who are not just delivering next-generation capabilities for our armed forces, but also security for our Norwegian partners and NATO for years to come.”

The contract will directly support around 2,000 jobs at BAE in Glasgow and another 2,000 in the wider supply chain, with more than 100 Scottish businesses expected to benefit.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the deal cemented the UK’s strategic partnership with Norway: “With Norway, we will train, operate, deter, and – if necessary – fight together. Our navies will work as one, leading NATO in the North Atlantic. These ships will hunt Russian submarines, protect critical infrastructure and keep our nations secure.”

Scottish Secretary Ian Murray hailed the move as proof of the “tremendous success” of Scotland’s shipbuilding industry, calling it another “defence dividend” for the nation.

For NATO allies, the deal is more than an industrial win. It signals Britain’s renewed influence in European defence at a time of heightened threat. As Russia pushes further into contested waters, London and Oslo are betting on advanced frigates to safeguard Europe’s northern flank for decades to come