Europeans step up submarine hunting in the North
Norway’s Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik says ‘a burden-sharing arrangement’ with Germany and the UK related to submarine hunting in the north is coming into place.
In an interview with the National Defense Magazine, the Norwegian defence minister confirms that the three countries have agreed to enhance cooperation in submarine hunting in the High North.
The ‘burden-sharing arrangement’ is a joint initiative by Norway, Germany and the UK, Tore O. Sandvik told the news media during the Munich Security Conference last week.
It is not clear whether the initiative implies a reduced American naval presence in the region.
According to Sandvik, the three countries will “relieve the US of responsibilities.”
“We believe that submarine hunting is one of the areas where we can relieve the Americans more. So we will do more in line with what is stated in the defence plan, with a new fleet plan and such things,” the minister told the National Defense Magazine.
“This means that we are relieving the US of responsibilities that it has taken on in areas where Europe should have taken greater responsibility, and one of those areas is submarine hunting, where we can do more together in Europe. So now we have taken this initiative together with Germany and the UK,” Sandvik elaborated.
Reportedly, also France is ready to join the initiative. Several more countries are expected to follow suit.
The new initiative comes as Norway significantly steps up defence cooperation with European allies, and especially the UK and Germany.
On February 14 Tore O. Sandvik and his German colleague Boris Pistorius signed a historic agreement that ‘covers collaboration across all domains.’
The cooperation, which is branded as the Hansa Arrangement, includes a high focus on maritime security in the North Atlantic and the North Sea.
“This is a natural development in an evolving security landscape. We aim to establish a framework that encompasses the full scope of bilateral defence cooperation between Norway and Germany. Our countries stand united in a time of heightened uncertainty in Europe, sharing security interests, a solid industrial partnership, and a joint responsibility to strengthen NATO and European security,” Sandvik said in a statement.
Joint submarine operations are among the priorities. Norway has ordered six submarines from the German Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.
The countries are also collaborating on the development of next-generation long-range maritime missiles (3SM).
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada urges NATO to make Arctic Sentry initiative permanent, CBC News
Denmark: Denmark to provide four F-35 fighter jets to NATO’s Arctic Sentry, Reuters
Finland: Greenland clash left a mark on EU-US relations says Finnish PM, Yle News
Greenland: New Italy Arctic policy adds U.S. Greenland ambitions to growing Arctic competition narrative, Eye on the Arctic
Iceland: NATO chief to Arctic Allies: “We’re all frontline states now,” as Iceland’s role grows, Eye on the Arctic
Norway: The UK doubles number of troops in Norway, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russia claims first-ever North Pole aerial refuelling, TASS reports, Reuters
Sweden: Swedish military intelligence on the great power rivalry over Greenland, Radio Sweden
United States: Rubio says technical talks with Denmark, Greenland officials over Arctic security have begun, The Associated Press
