Royal Navy lacks resources to counter Russian threat in high north, MPs warn
Summary
British MPs warn that the Royal Navy does not have enough submarines and warships to stop a possible Russian threat in the high north, the seas beyond Scotland. They say the navy is under-resourced and slow to respond, which could weaken the UK’s defense against Russia’s growing interest in the Arctic region.Key Facts
- The Royal Navy’s submarines and warships are fewer in number and often unavailable due to repairs or deployments.
- HMS Dragon, a destroyer, took more than three weeks to reach Cyprus after a drone attack on a base there.
- All five UK Astute-class attack submarines were undergoing repairs and not at sea in the summer.
- The UK has only five frigates with sonar to detect submarines, below the target of eight.
- Russia wants control over the northern sea route, a key shipping lane along its Arctic coast.
- The UK navy cannot yet operate under Arctic ice like Russian submarines but is working on certification to improve this.
- MPs call for a defense plan to increase the number of ships and submarines by 2030.
- Concerns exist that the US military support might not be reliable in future crises in the region under President Trump.
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