Lammy to talk security ties and Russian threats in trip to Norway

The Foreign Secretary will visit Norway’s military command centre with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrives at BBC Broadcasting House in London, to appear on the BBC One current affairs programme Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg (Lucy North/PA) (PA Wire)

The Foreign Secretary will discuss deepening defence, security ties with Norway and tackling threats from Russia when he meets his Norwegian counterpart on Wednesday.

David Lammy called Norway “our eyes and ears in the High North” and “a key ally in the defence of Nato’s northern flank” ahead of a trip to the country.

He will visit Norwegian Joint Headquarters, the country’s military command centre, with Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide.

Norway acts as our eyes and ears in the High North; our joint work at the Norwegian military headquarters underlines the importance of our work to bolster Europe's defences

David Lammy

The UK and Norway will agree to further intelligence sharing and cooperation to counter Russian disinformation networks in Europe and beyond, the Foreign Office said.

The Foreign Secretary said: “With the return of war to the European continent, the UK’s relationship with Norway, as a key ally in the defence of Nato’s northern flank, has never been more important.

“We are both unwavering in our support to Ukraine, and together we are training and supporting the Ukrainian armed forces including boosting the country’s air defence and maritime capabilities.

“Norway acts as our eyes and ears in the High North; our joint work at the Norwegian military headquarters underlines the importance of our work to bolster Europe’s defences.

“Euro-Atlantic security is this Government’s foreign and defence priority.”

Mr Lammy will speak with his Norwegian counterpart about joint work in the High North to detect, deter and contain threats and defend Nato’s northern flank.

The two foreign ministers are also expected to talk about efforts to tackle Moscow’s efforts to evade the embargo on Russian oil with a “shadow fleet”.

The UK recently announced sanctions on 10 ships it said were operating as part of a shadow fleet.

The Foreign Secretary will also welcome Norway’s navy patrols of the waters between the UK and the Russian Northern Fleet to monitor and deter subsea threats to energy, security and critical national infrastructure.

Norway has hosted Arctic training for the British Armed Forces for more than 50 years.

What we need to do is work collectively

Emily Thornberry

More than 4,000 UK troops will visit Norway in the next six months for winter training and military exercises.

Sir Keir Starmer met Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Store in July and agreed to begin work on a new Norwegian-UK partnership on security and the energy transition.

Mr Lammy pledged that the Foreign Office would put the global green energy transition at the centre of its mission in his first major speech as Foreign Secretary on Tuesday.

Chairwoman elect of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Emily Thornberry said the West should give Ukraine permission to use long-range Storm Shadow missiles but added that the UK should not do so without the US’s agreement.

Speaking on Sky News, Ms Thornberry said: “I think we should have let them use them … they’re under bombardment from sites in Russia. So in order for the Ukrainians to defend themselves, they need to take out those sites.”

She later added: “I don’t think (the UK should go it alone). I think those that are saying it are just being silly. I think they’re not thinking strategically. What we need to do is work collectively.”