UK defence committee warns naval gaps leave High North interests exposed

The UK Commons Defence Committee warned on 22 October that shortages and low availability of Royal Navy warships and submarines could leave British interests in the High North exposed to Russian threats. MPs said the gaps raise questions about the UK’s ability to protect critical infrastructure and meet its commitments in the region.

The committee said undersea cables and energy supplies could be vulnerable to sabotage, while a conflict could put civilian and military infrastructure and vital Atlantic supply routes from the US at risk. These are risks identified by MPs, rather than reported attacks.

What MPs say the Royal Navy lacks

The Guardian reported that the committee cited evidence that none of Britain’s five Astute-class attack submarines was at sea from June into the summer. It also reported that five frigates had sonar for detecting submarines, below a stated target of eight, and that reaching the requirement could take until 2037. Metro reported that the committee counted five Type 23 frigates and six Type 45 destroyers in service, and urged ministers to keep the remaining Type 23 ships until replacements arrive.

‘The UK needs to be willing to address a hard truth: it does not currently have all the capabilities to operate successfully in the high north,’ committee chair Tan Dhesi said, according to the Guardian. He said the publicly available evidence called into question whether the UK could meet its commitments there.

Committee calls for a 2030 naval plan

MPs called for ‘dramatic progress’ by the end of the decade and asked the Ministry of Defence to draw up a plan to put more warships and submarines at sea by 2030, the Guardian reported. The committee also raised whether the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a coalition of northern European nations, should focus more on the High North amid uncertainty over US support for NATO.

The Ministry of Defence said it was ‘clear-eyed’ about the threat posed by Russia and was investing in protection for undersea infrastructure. Metro reported that the ministry cited £330 million for that protection and £1.5 billion for Atlantic Bastion. An MoD spokesperson said the Joint Expeditionary Force was already strengthening NATO’s northern flank and its ability to respond rapidly to emerging threats.