The United Kingdom is set to collaborate with Norway to improve the two nations’ counter-eavesdropping operations.
Under the agreement announced during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Bergen last week, the UK National Authority for Counter-Eavesdropping and the Norwegian National Security Authority will launch research and development projects focused on advancing technical security.
UK NACE has been working on technical security since 1945, offering guidance and training to several national agencies. It also collaborates with British universities to build a new search equipment technology.
The collaboration between the two agencies will enhance existing capabilities to track a network of devices that eavesdrop or launch a wide range of attacks. A story by British media outlet Express revealed that Oslo faces a growing eavesdropping threat from Russia due to its proximity to the regime.
UK-Norway Relations
“Norway is one of our closest defense and security partners, and I welcome this agreement, which will further strengthen our collective resilience against threats from hostile states as part of our new strategic partnership,” said Stephen Doughty, U.K. minister for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories.
The new pact builds on several bilateral initiatives already in play.
On Dec. 16, Starmer met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to sign a new strategic partnership, underscoring Norway’s critical role as the U.K.’s defense and security partner in the region.
In November, Norway said it is considering collaborating with the British and other allied countries on a fleet of new anti-submarine vessels.