Policy paper

UK-Norway Lunna House Agreement on Defence

Published 6 August 2026

The Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Norway hereinafter referred to as “the Participants”.

Recognise that their longstanding defence co-operation is founded upon shared interests, values and responsibilities, derived from their shared history and geographic proximity.

Understanding that strengthening of their bilateral defence co-operation reinforces their commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) as the cornerstone of their collective defence and their shared dedication to upholding the Rules-Based International System under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).

Steadfast in their mutual commitment to strengthen the defence of the Euro-Atlantic bilaterally, within NATO, the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), working closely with the European Union (EU) and other Allies and partners.

Noting their unique positions and responsibilities to the security of NATO’s Northern Flank, the North Atlantic, the High North and Arctic security, especially in the Maritime Domain.

Demonstrating mutual willingness to oppose strategic threats, deter potential aggressors and promote international peace and security globally within a rapidly changing defence and security environment.

Enhancing mutual security and defence by striving to align common strategic priorities and considerations.

Desiring to enhance the operational capabilities of both nations, ensuring an even higher degree of interoperability and interchangeability between their armed forces, from seabed to space.

Recognising the need to ensure the continuing viability of personnel exchange. This deep alignment provides the foundation for enhanced co-operation across all services and domains, including capability planning and development. 

Mindful of their rights and obligations under the North Atlantic Treaty, done in Washington 4 April 1949. Considering the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces (the “NATO SOFA”), done in London 19 June 1951 and its applicability to this Defence Agreement.

Promoting greater armaments and defence industrial co-operation and further enhance capability, research and development, and innovation co-operation to support mutual prosperity, driving exports and industrial resilience, and offering strategic and economic benefit to Allies and partners.

Building upon the 2025 Maritime Capability Framework, the 2025 Satellite Communications Memorandum of Understanding, the 2024 Joint Declaration on the Norwegian-UK Strategic Partnership, the 2024 Strategic Policy Roadmap for Trilateral Multi-Domain Co-operation, the 2017 Statement of Intent on P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft Co-operation, the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding on the Enhancement of Bilateral Defence Co-operation, the 2010 Memorandum of Understanding in respect of Defence Material Co-operation and the provisions of the 1996 General Security Arrangement on mutual protection of classified information.

Have come to the following understanding:

1. Objectives

The Participants, building on the existing co-operation between their respective governments, ministries, armed forces, agencies and industries, will build a long-term partnership with the following objectives:

• Strengthen security in the Euro-Atlantic, contributing towards long-term European Defence, maintaining peace and jointly bolstering the NATO Alliance through the defence of NATO’s Northern Flank.
• Promote co-operation through the JEF as the regional construct to enhance regional security in the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea.
• Further improve mutual capability to act and operate jointly by enhancing interoperability and interchangeability across all domains, in support of national and the NATO family of defence plans. This includes the further strengthening of our maritime partnership, striving for the closest relationship possible between the Participants’ navies and maritime aviation.
• Continued long-term support for Ukraine, enhancing defence capability and innovation to support them in addressing threats to their territories, particularly within the maritime domain, through joint leadership of the Maritime Capability Coalition.
• Promote armaments and defence industrial collaboration and mutually support defence industries to grow our economies and increase exports optimising the use of their defence resources to improve cost-efficiency and achieve technological benefits.
• Further develop our Defence Intelligence relationship and co-operation.
• Further develop our Defence Space relationship and co-operation.
• Increase dialogue on countering hybrid threats and malign influence, strengthening maritime security and safeguarding Critical National Infrastructure.
• Co-operate globally to the greatest extent possible to safeguard shared interests and values as well as support the Rules Based International System, Human Security and Human Rights.
• Further strengthen co-operation on sustainability and the impact of climate change on Defence, jointly working to increase the operational effectiveness and resilience of the Participants’ armed forces.
• Continued support for exploring collaboration on Defence technology, including AI and autonomy, through established engagement frameworks both bilaterally and multi-laterally, to include focus on shared challenges such as climate change and arctic warfare technologies.
• Further develop our co-operation on multi-domain operations in the Arctic, the High North, the Baltic Sea Region and in the North Atlantic.

2. Mutual defence

The Participants reaffirm their commitment to the NATO as the foundation of their collective defence and to their obligations as stipulated in the North Atlantic Treaty of 4 April 1949, in particular Article 5.

The Participants will work together as NATO Allies to ensure the Alliance continues to strengthen collective deterrence and defence against all threats and from all directions and to enhance the European contribution to Europe’s own security. To this end, they will co-ordinate their positions, including in the area of deterrence and defence, and ensure that increased contributions and investments deliver on their commitments.

As NATO Allies and strategic partners, the Participants affirm their deep commitment to each other’s defence and, in case of an armed attack on the other, will take such action as they deem necessary to restore and maintain security.

3. Areas of co-operation

The Participants will seek to align at the strategic level, sharing assessments on long-term threats, plans, strategies and wargaming scenarios, developing joint positions and outputs where possible. This alignment will cultivate systemic links between our ministries and armed forces, through strategic dialogues, heightened communication, increased information and intelligence sharing and use of embedded and exchange officers and educational exchanges, with the aim of building on their shared strategic culture. Without limiting the ability to identify additional areas of co-operation, the Participants will undertake deep and targeted co-operation in the following areas:

• A Combined Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Fleet and Maritime transformation.
• Rapid Reinforcement.
• Autonomy in the High North.
• Climate, research and development.

4. Management of co-operation

Enhanced co-operation between the Participants will be achieved through an annual Defence Ministerial Council, chaired by Defence Ministers and supported by a Secretariat, chaired by senior officials and military representatives.

The Defence Ministerial Council will be underpinned by three key pillars (Capability, Military and Policy) that aim to develop co-operation and ensure productive conversation and tangible outcomes. Outcomes of dialogues within each pillar will be reported to and directly inform the Defence Ministerial Council.

5. Delivery of co-operation

The Senior Military Committee, chaired by the Vice Chiefs of Defence will govern co-operation between our Armed Forces and Joint Headquarters. This Committee will be underpinned by Staff talks between Single Services and Joint Commands.

The Defence Policy Dialogue will strengthen policy co-operation and include exchanges on key mutual defence issues.

The Capability and Industrial Dialogue will be governed by designated Ministers for each of the Participants. This dialogue will be underpinned by Capability Talks, and Armaments Talks, led by National Armaments Directors.

6. Related arrangements

The Participants may jointly decide to enter into written arrangements to implement specific aspects of their co-operation under this Defence Agreement. 

7. Costs and benefits

This Defence Agreement will not impose any financial responsibilities on its Participants, except that each Participant will be responsible for the funding costs it incurs in its own interest, related to the support of this Defence Agreement. Specific financial provisions will be detailed for the relevant co-operative areas in Related Arrangements as required.

8. Settlement of disputes

Any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of this Defence Agreement will be settled through negotiation between the Participants, through diplomatic channels.

9. Amendments

This Defence Agreement may be amended at any time, in writing, by the consent of both Participants with such amendments coming into effect on the date of last signature.

10. Status of this Defence Agreement

This Defence Agreement is not a treaty under international law and does not create any legally binding rights or obligations between the Participants.

11. Other defence and security agreements and arrangements

The provisions of this Defence Agreement will not affect the rights and obligations of each Participant under other defence and security agreements and arrangements to which it is party.

12. Entry into effect, duration, and termination

This Defence Agreement will enter into effect on the date of signature and will remain in effect until termination in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Section.

Either Participant may terminate this Defence Agreement with written notice to the other Participant through diplomatic channels ninety (90) days beforehand.

13. Signature

This Defence Agreement is signed in duplicate, in the English language.

For the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

The Rt Hon John Healey MP
Secretary of State for Defence

For the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom of Norway:

Tore Sandvik
Minister of Defence