Royal Navy frigate is in the North Seathe Defense Department has said amid efforts to protect underwater infrastructure following attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines.
Minister of Defence Ben Wallace took part in a Northern crisis meeting European countries on Monday to discuss coordinated security responses, including an increased maritime presence.
“The group condemned the blatant attacks on civilian infrastructure,” the Defense Department said on Twitter.
“A Royal Navy frigate is in the North Sea working with the Norwegian Navy to reassure those working near the gas pipelines.”
Russia was accused of attacking the Nord Stream submarine gas pipelines, leading to massive methane leaks.
Prime Minister Liz Truss has said a series of explosions that caused extensive damage to the pipelines were “clearly an act of sabotage”.
Prior to meeting with colleagues from the joint expeditionary force, Mr Wallace warned that Russia is making “no secret” of its ability to target underwater infrastructure.
Speaking at the Conservative Party conference on Sunday, the defense secretary said that “the Nordic states and ourselves are very vulnerable to people doing things on our cables and pipelines”.
The “mysterious” damage done to the Nord Stream pipelines should be a reminder of how “fragile” Britain’s economy and infrastructure are in the face of “hybrid attacks,” said Mr Wallace.
He announced that the government will acquire “two specialized ships” with the ability to patrol and protect the network from Russia, as Britain’s “internet and energy are highly dependent on pipelines and cables”.
He said: “The first multi-purpose seabed warfare research vessel will be purchased by the end of this year, fitted out here in the UK and then operational before the end of next year.
“The second ship will be built in the UK and we will make sure it covers all our vulnerabilities.”
At the meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force – comprising the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden – ministers discussed increasing shared intelligence assessments and cooperation to secure critical infrastructure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Defence.
Mr Wallace said: “In this period of heightened concern for all like-minded partner countries, it is right that we act with speed, agility and collective determination to actively demonstrate our shared commitment to mutual security.”