Source · Select Committees · Defence Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted
Ensure UK provides leadership and required capabilities for JEF operations in High North
Conclusion
The UK’s role as a framework nation in JEF means that it has to ensure it is leading both politically and militarily including by ensuring that it has the capabilities required for exercises and operations in the High North and Polar regions. The UK must ensure that the JEF is able to respond at pace and protect its member nations (and in particular their critical national infrastructure installations) given the increasing threat posed in the High North and the Baltic Sea. We intend to examine the Defence Investment Plan for the inclusion of capabilities which would facilitate military tasks in northern Europe. (Conclusion, Paragraph 52)
Government Response Summary
The government states that existing frameworks like the SDR, recent agreements such as the Lunna House Agreement with Norway, and current operations like JEF’s NORDIC WARDEN demonstrate the UK is already leading and ensuring JEF responsiveness in Northern Europe and the High North.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The SDR sets out how the UK should, as framework nation, continue with its Allies to develop the JEF as a capable and willing coalition, committed to improving NATO’s defence and deterrence in Northern Europe and the High North. The JEF, by design, does not have standing force commitments. Members (and non-members via the JEF+ mechanism) contribute forces as required by the situation. The UK maintains an operational command staff as part of Standing Joint Forces Headquarters which coheres and commands these contributions when required. Within the JEF construct and more broadly, the UK remains committed to defending NATO’s northern flank and being able to operate in the High North. The UK’s recent agreement with Norway is testament to this. Through the Lunna House Agreement, the UK and Norway will patrol the North Atlantic as one, train together in the Arctic, and develop the advanced equipment that will keep our citizens safe now and into the future. The JEF complements and strengthens NATO’s overall defence and deterrence, demonstrated by the mutually reinforcing responses to damage to the Estlink2 undersea cable in the Baltic Sea which saw the JEF activate a response option, known as NORDIC WARDEN, harnessing AI to track potential threats to undersea infrastructure and monitor the Russian shadow fleet. JEF’s NORDIC WARDEN is complementary to NATO’s BALTIC SENTRY operation, both helping support the protection of critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.