The UK strengthened naval cooperation with northern European allies on Thursday, 23 April 2026, as the First Sea Lord brought together Joint Expeditionary Force Chiefs of Navy (CHoNS) in Whitehall to confront growing Russian threats and strengthen deterrence in the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic.
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins hosted his counterparts to discuss how they can
significantly deepen the partnerships and co-operation between the UK and allied northern navies, in particular through the Joint Expeditionary Force. The UK has led since it was established in 2014.
While the JEF, alongside NATO, has provided deterrence in the North, Russian
aggression in the maritime domain, both on the surface and undersea, has only grown more brazen in recent years.
Across Northern Europe, the North Atlantic and the High North, Russia’s interference in shipping and its probing of critical national infrastructure now requires the UK and its allies to move beyond coalition activity towards a permanent joint force that is more ready to fight and able to generate a significant increase in collective combat power.
The discussions at CHoNS focused on improving collective warfighting readiness and enhancing the ability of allied navies to operate together from day one.
The Royal Navy will look to go further in the future and create a force in which
interchangeability – the ability to substitute, swap, or mix equipment, parts,
ammunition, or personnel – is possible because member nations would be operating common systems and platforms, shared digital networks, logistics and stockpiles.
Already, the UK is exporting its most advanced warships, the Type 26 frigate, to Norway and Canada and is in advanced talks, meaning there is real potential for a family of allied fleets built around a common British design. The UK has also demonstrated the potential of deepening naval partnerships through its Lunna House Agreement with Norway, through which the two navies are working together to counter Russian activity in the North Atlantic.
Ahead of CHoNS, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins hosted a memorial lecture
(Wednesday 22 April) in honour of former Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Henry Leach, who led the Royal Navy during the Falklands War and helped convince Margaret Thatcher to send a naval taskforce to recapture the islands in 1982. The First Sea Lord used the speech to set out his ambitions for the following day’s CHoNS summit.
The Leach lecture was delivered by the guest of honour, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer, who in January was appointed NATO’s Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR), the most senior UK role in the Alliance.
First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, said:
“The security of the High North and North Atlantic depends on our ability to act together with allies, not occasionally, but permanently and at pace.
“That is why we need to build on the work of the Joint Expeditionary Force and our closest naval partnerships, moving from irregular responses towards a much deeper partnership. This requires a joint force that is integrated, interoperable, and capable of providing meaningful deterrence. Like the JEF, it would be there to complement NATO.
“By deepening trust, aligning our capabilities, and operating common platforms and systems, we will generate the collective combat power that can protect our people, our infrastructure, and our shared interests, and if required, fight as one from the very first moment.”
Ahead of the CHoNS summit, senior Royal Navy leaders emphasised the importance of unity and practical cooperation among JEF navies, noting that close integration, common standards and regular combined training are key to maintaining deterrence and stability.
The JEF CHoNs meeting will reinforce the UK’s commitment to working with its closest partners to safeguard the North Atlantic and adjacent seas, underlining the Royal Navy’s role as a trusted leader, convenor and integrator in support of shared defence and security objectives.
Thanks to http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news