Britain has agreed to establish a unified naval force with nine European countries to counter future Russian threats from the "open sea border" to the north, the head of the Royal Navy announced. Admiral Sir Gwyn Jenkins, the First Sea Lord, stated that despite the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, where the Strait of Hormuz remains closed after the US-Israeli war in Iran, "Russia remains the gravest threat to our security."
Joint Expeditionary Force Expands Maritime Role
In a speech, Jenkins revealed that the ten members of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) had signed a statement of intent to create a multinational maritime force as a complement to NATO. The JEF includes the Netherlands, all five Nordic countries, and the three Baltic states, with the UK as its largest military member. Canada is also considering joining as some NATO members refine their response to rising Russian aggression.
The new force will not include the United States, whose President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the UK for not actively supporting the bombing of Iran, at one point describing the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers as "toys." Military cooperation between the US and the UK is at a low point, with disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz. The US has sought help in forcing the strait and criticized British and French discussions about defensive patrols after the war ends, calling them "silly."
Russian Incursions and Submarine Surveillance
Earlier this month, the UK reported that Russian spy submarines had been tracked conducting covert surveillance of undersea infrastructure around Britain. "Russian incursions into our waters have jumped by almost a third in the last two years," Jenkins said, adding that the UK now has an "open sea border with Russia to the north." The aim of the new maritime force, which would be commanded from the UK's military headquarters in Northwood, northwest London, is to train and prepare together. It is "designed to fight immediately if required, with real capabilities, real war plans, and real integration," Jenkins stated.
Challenges and Future Plans
However, the navy struggled to make a warship available at the start of the war in Iran. It took over three weeks after a drone strike on the British Akrotiri base in Cyprus to deploy HMS Dragon into the eastern Mediterranean, and the destroyer later had to dock to fix toilet and water supply problems. Jenkins acknowledged that the Middle East crisis had put the navy in the spotlight, asking, "Were we prepared enough? Can we fight today, and if so, with what?" He noted that the service has an overall plan of action.
Naval sources attribute the availability crisis at the start of the war to a lack of prior investment and highlight the impact of cuts to shipbuilding by previous governments. Jenkins, a former Royal Marine and special forces commander, announced that "uncrewed escort ships"—large sea drones—would sail alongside UK warships within the next two years as part of an effort to increase military capability at a lower cost.
Sanctions Enforcement and Russian Defiance
While the UK has threatened to seize Russia-linked "shadow fleet" tankers exporting sanctions-hit oil, it has not done so, unlike other European countries. Russia has committed frigates to escort vessels under sanctions through the Strait of Dover in defiance of a UK warning made publicly by Keir Starmer on 25 March. Since then, 98 tankers subject to sanctions have passed through British waters.
