Checks and Balances in the High North: The British Vision of the Arctic

The UK’s Arctic strategy is shaped by evolving geopolitical, military, and environmental challenges. Although not a part of the Arctic, the British Army plays a crucial role for the greater securitisation of the region. This paper examines the UK's defence contributions in the High North, focusing on military cooperation with Arctic states, strategic deterrence measures, and environmental considerations. Key initiatives such as Project Heimdall, the F-35 Lightning II program, and the Littoral Response Group (North) illustrate the UK’s commitment to NATO’s Arctic security framework. Additionally, UK partnerships with Arctic nations highlight collaborative approaches to Arctic governance. With increasing Russian and Chinese activity in the region, the UK’s role is crucial in maintaining stability through joint exercises and surveillance initiatives. The paper also explores future policy directions, including UK-Scandinavian security alignment and transatlantic defence shifts. Balancing military preparedness with environmental stewardship remains a core challenge for UK policymakers. As Arctic geopolitics continue to evolve, the UK's strategic role will be integral to shaping a secure and sustainable Arctic future.

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Joint naval and aerial exercises in the Indo-Pacific and new regional alignments in 2023.

On October 22, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States (US) navies completed the anti-submarine exercise called ‘Silent Shark’ in the waters of Guam. Since 2007, Silent Shark has been conducted biennially. The live-training exercise involved the nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN-754) and the diesel-electric submarine ROKS Jung Ji (SS-073), along with maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft from the US Navy’s Squadron 8 and the ROK’s Navy Squadron 611.

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The Road to Atlantic: China’s naval projection

In the past decades, China has profoundly invested in the modernization of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) moving China to the first position as the world’s largest maritime force with its size expected to grow in the future (U.S. Department of Defense 2021). Whereas China’s initial goal is to strengthen its Navy to match or surpass the United States global influence or power in the Indo-Pacific region, it is also to project its forces to protect China’s national interests abroad and gain a more important place in the international system. In doing so, China is using a combination of economic, political, and military tools, under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), to evade the United States’ containment strategy and secure its strategic position.

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Lockheed Martin’s New Agreement with the United States Navy

American security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin Corporation provided the United States Naval Forces with an innovative High Energy Laser, which includes Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance, cue the name HELIOS. The company was appointed the system in 2018, with the system being a novelty since it will be the first ever laser weapon system accommodated into existing warships whilst it entails tactical warfighting competence aiming for an advanced defence and security architecture (Saballa, 2022). In the same context, due to its deep magazine, low-cost per kill, instant delivery, and precisive response, the system works as a shield for the fleet (Lockheed Martin Delivers Integrated Multi-Mission Laser Weapon System To The Navy, 2022). Previously, the Department of Defense (DoD) said it had allocated $1.77 million for the Open6G industrial-university cooperative. This initiative is part of the ambitious Innovate Beyond 5G program, overseen by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

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Poland to Bolster Western Presence in the Baltic Sea with Three Additional Mine Countermeasures Vessels

During the last week of March 2022, various sources reported the capture of a Russian advanced electronic warfare system (EWS) by Ukrainian forces. According to Insider and The Time of London, the Ukrainian armed forces identified an abandoned, damaged container covered by tree branches between the town of Makariv and Kyiv. The container was eventually identified as the command post of one of the most advanced Russian EWS, the 1RL257 Krasukha-4.

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