Russian naval aggression prompts new defensive initiative with ‘beer-drinking nations’

New alliance with the Netherlands and Baltic and Nordic countries comes in response to 41% increase in Russian naval activity around UK

Russian naval activity around the UK has increased by 41% in the first nine months of the year, a British defence minister said, as the Royal Navy announced plans to step up a 10-country maritime defensive effort in response.

Luke Pollard, minister for defence readiness, described the figure as “a huge increase”, justifying a new drone and warship initiative from “the alliance of beer-drinking nations” – the UK, the Netherlands and the Baltic and Nordic countries.

The plan is for sea drones from the UK and other countries to be able to work interchangeably with warships from countries across the Northern Navies Initiative at a time when the…