A group of ten European countries has agreed to create a dedicated team within the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) to address growing Russian threats in northern waters.
Established in 2014 and led by the United Kingdom, the JEF was designed to enable swift military cooperation among allied partner nations.
The coalition includes the UK, the Netherlands, all five Nordic nations, and three Baltic states, reinforcing defense and deterrence efforts across the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic areas.
Canada is evaluating potential participation in the alliance, whereas the US has not joined amid ongoing diplomatic strain with the British government over the Iran-related conflict in the Middle East.
London-Based Command
Jenkins noted that the force will train and operate collectively and may be coordinated through the UK maritime command center in Northwood, located in northwest London.
‘Hybrid Navy’ Integration
He also highlighted that the effort will complement Britain’s “Hybrid Navy” concept, which seeks to expand naval strength by integrating unmanned escort ships with traditional naval vessels over the next two years to deliver greater capability at lower operating costs.
