Britain and Norway have set out shared priorities for maritime security, critical infrastructure and defence production after an international forum in Oslo brought together political, military and industry figures.
The Atlantic Future Forum took place on 11 and 12 November aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. The ship hosted representatives from across Europe and the Atlantic after taking part in NATO’s Arctic Sentry activity in the High North.
In a statement issued on 13 November, the co-hosts described discussions on the security of the region and the need for closer cooperation. More than 50 political and military leaders, government officials and industry figures contributed to the discussions.
The statement reaffirmed NATO’s place as the foundation of collective security and highlighted a growing role for European allies and Canada. It also connected the security of Ukraine with that of the wider Euro-Atlantic area, while emphasising continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and a just and lasting peace.
Protecting essential services
Critical infrastructure was one of the themes running through the discussions. The co-hosts highlighted preparedness and cooperation between governments, businesses and civil society as parts of national resilience.
That approach draws on the idea of total defence: preparing both military and civilian parts of society to withstand threats and disruption. It puts responsibility beyond the armed forces alone, including the organisations that operate services and infrastructure.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed the forum on 11 November. He stressed the importance of maritime security for trade, energy supplies and communications, including the cables linking continents beneath the sea. He also urged both public and private sectors to help strengthen resilience.
For countries around the North Atlantic, those concerns sit alongside the practical question of how allied forces can operate together over a large maritime area. The forum’s co-hosts identified security at sea and respect for international law as important to the region’s security and prosperity.
Ukraine and defence production
The meeting took place against the backdrop of Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine. The co-hosts described Russian aggression as a growing and evolving threat and said participants supported the continued defence of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
They also highlighted the exchange of tactical and operational experience from modern warfare. Lessons from Ukraine, including those involving technology and wider national preparedness, were identified as relevant to the development of future military capabilities.
Industry was another focus. Participants endorsed the need to increase production, accelerate innovation and give businesses clearer signals to support investment. The discussion included how smaller companies and start-ups, as well as established defence manufacturers, could bring technology into use more quickly.
Those priorities are a direction for further work, not a list of new factories, contracts or completed deliveries. The forum statement did not set a production target or timetable for the industrial proposals.
Naval cooperation and new vessels
The forum followed a separate agreement signed on 10 November, also aboard HMS Prince of Wales in Oslo. Representatives of the 10 maritime nations in the Joint Expeditionary Force signed the Northern Navies Initiative at the International Sea Power Conference.
That initiative is intended to bring the navies closer in how they operate, train and plan, including through compatible equipment. The forum’s co-hosts pointed to it as an example of the cooperation they want to strengthen. The agreement preceded the two-day forum rather than being signed at it.
During the forum itself, UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik confirmed a British commitment to acquire three Norwegian offshore support vessels, with an option for three more. The vessels are intended to act as motherships for uncrewed mine-hunting systems.
The first vessel is due to be delivered in 2031. The announcement is a procurement commitment, not a report that the ships have already entered service. Using similar platforms is intended to make it easier for the two navies to work together.
The post-forum statement brings those maritime issues together with a broader agenda on resilience, industrial capacity and Ukraine. It describes shared priorities after the meeting; it does not itself establish a new NATO operation or a single programme covering every issue discussed.
