The Royal Navy has signed an agreement with Joint Expeditionary Force allies that will increase security across northern Europe, the North Atlantic, and the Baltic Sea.
The Northern Navies Initiative will improve co-operation across the ten member nations, meaning they'll operate in the same way, train to the same standard, plan together before a crisis and develop compatible equipment.
Signed by First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins on board HMS Prince of Wales in Norway, he spoke of his delight at the initiative taking a step forward after nine months of hard work.
"Together, we have shown what is possible when like-minded nations are united by a common purpose," he said at the International Sea Power Conference in Oslo.
"The threats we face are multiplying, and we must rise to the challenge before us."
Gen Sir Gwyn also warned that the risk of conflict is rising, and Russia will continue to test the resolve of the UK and look for any weaknesses.
Maritime vanguard
The new agreement will allow member nations of the JEF to act early, combine quickly, and transition seamlessly into Nato command should the Alliance need to mobilise at scale.
In practice, this means a Royal Navy frigate could transfer operational responsibility to another JEF member without losing momentum.
For example, one nation's task group could direct allied sensors and uncrewed vessels, while a warship could repair, refuel and resupply in an allied port rather than returning home.
The force will also make its equipment interoperable by design, allowing future autonomous platforms to plug in and out of each other's command-and-control systems.
Ultimately, it will create one large maritime force, instead of 10 separate ones.
Signed by representatives of all 10 JEF maritime nations, it delivers on a Statement of Intent proposed by Gen Sir Gwyn in London last year.
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