---
title: "\"Most Dangerous Period\": Britain and Northern Europe Form Naval Alliance Against Russian Submarines"
description: "Great Britain and Northern European countries have agreed to create a naval alliance within the JEF to deter Russian submarines. The UK Chief of Defence called the current period the most dangerous."
date: 2026-11-08T13:48:32.934Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/britain-northern-europe-naval-alliance-against-russia
tags: [uk, russia, naval-alliance, arctic, nato, submarines, jef]
author: "Andrey Kosynko"
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "Most Dangerous Period": Britain and Northern Europe Form Naval Alliance Against Russian Submarines

![British military personnel in camouflage uniforms studying a map during exercises](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/08/britain-northern-europe-naval-alliance-against-russia/britain-northern-europe-naval-alliance-against-russia-1.webp)

## Key Points

- Great Britain and Northern European countries have agreed to create a naval alliance within the JEF to deter Russia.
- The main goal will be countering Russian submarines in the North Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Baltic Sea.
- UK Chief of Defence Sir Richard Knighton called the current period the "most dangerous" of his adult life and admitted London is lagging behind in assessing the threat.

Great Britain and a number of Northern European countries have reached an agreement to create a naval alliance focused on deterring Russia — primarily its submarine fleet. Reportedly, the corresponding agreement will be formalized within the framework of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), led by London. The initiative reflects an attempt by allies to move from words to practical coordination under conditions that British military leadership characterizes as the most tense in recent decades.

### From Declarations to Joint Actions

A key area of cooperation between London and its Northern European partners will be countering Russian submarines in three areas: the North Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Baltic Sea. According to reports, the participating countries intend to move from declarative agreements to concrete joint actions. First and foremost, this concerns strengthening coordination between naval, air, and land forces, which should ensure a more rapid response to enemy submarine activity.

### "Most Dangerous Period": Chief of Defence's Statement

Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, made relevant statements. He admitted that Britain is lagging behind other European countries in assessing the Russian threat, and against this background announced further measures to counter Russian submarines in the North Atlantic. Commenting on Moscow's actions, Knighton stated: "We are talking about targeted killings, sabotage, and cyber attacks. These are very real actions by the Russian state, evidence of which we have in Europe and, to a certain extent, in Great Britain."

According to him, Moscow's "appetite" for provocations has "quite clearly grown," and the term "hybrid activity" no longer reflects the seriousness of its actions. "This is the most dangerous period I have lived through in my adult life... This threat — mainly from Russia, but more broadly — is growing," the Chief of Defence emphasized.

### Strategic Context: The Arctic and Undersea Cables

Journalists draw attention to the fact that the strategic importance of the North Atlantic and the Arctic for NATO is growing. This is due both to the emergence of new sea routes as a result of melting ice and to the location of important underwater communication cables in the region. These factors, according to estimates, make deterring underwater activity a priority for the new alliance.

### Return to Cold War Logic

The new initiative fits into a broader context previously described as Britain's return to Cold War strategy and preparation for a potential large-scale conflict. It was separately noted that London learned of a covert Russian operation in the Atlantic and issued a corresponding warning. Together, these signals indicate that the military-political rhetoric and practical steps of allies in the Arctic and North Atlantic are becoming a central element of European security.

## Fact-Check & Sources

- ["Самый опасный период": Британия создает новый альянс для сдерживания РФ](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/naynebezpechnishiy-period-britaniya-stvoryue-1794144732.html) - Primary source: direct quotes from UK Chief of Defence Sir Richard Knighton about the "most dangerous period," sabotage, cyber attacks, and the growth of Moscow's "appetite"; description of the agreement on a naval alliance within the JEF and the focus on submarines in the North Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Baltic. The alliance is described as a planned decision, hence the status with caveats.

## FAQ

### What is the JEF and what role does Great Britain play in the alliance?

The JEF (Joint Expeditionary Force) is a structure led by Great Britain. It is within this framework, according to the source, that the agreement on a naval alliance with Northern European countries is planned to be formalized.

### What is the main goal of the new naval alliance?

The key focus will be countering Russian submarines in the North Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Baltic Sea, as well as enhancing coordination between naval, air, and land forces.

### What did UK Chief of Defence Sir Richard Knighton state?

Knighton admitted that Britain is lagging behind other European countries in assessing the Russian threat, called the current period the "most dangerous" of his adult life, and pointed to the growth of Moscow's "appetite" for provocations.