Ten northern European nations sign pact to swap parts, ammunition and crews

The Joint Expeditionary Force agreement aims to deter future threats from Russia, after El País reported in July that the US would cut forces pledged to NATO. Command runs from the UK's Northwood headquarters.

Ten members of the Joint Expeditionary Force, a defence coalition of northern European countries with the United Kingdom at its core, sign an agreement on naval partnership on November 10 to deter future threats from Russia. The JEF nations committed in July under the Maritime Proposition to aligning doctrine so their navies can swap or mix parts, ammunition and crews. The United States stays outside the force, while Canada's participation is being considered.

In July, El País reported, Washington told European allies it would cut by a third the fighter aircraft it offered to NATO in a crisis, halve its strategic bombers and stop providing submarines. European allies and Canada have responded by moving to fill the gaps in Europe's security umbrella. Alliance sources describe the effort as burden sharing and a step toward a more European NATO.

The new agreement builds on the Maritime Proposition, which all ten JEF nations backed on 9 July. Norway proposed the initiative for a broad maritime partnership. It carried forward steps the defence ministers took when they met at Keflavik Air Base in Iceland on 2 October to advance the JEF's role in European and Euro-Atlantic security.

The ten stand side by side: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. General Gwyn Jenkins, the UK's First Sea Lord, said last month the force would complement NATO. He said it could respond to crises faster. He also confirmed the day-to-day command will run from Northwood, the Royal Navy's maritime headquarters near London.

Next, Iceland hosts the JEF Leaders' Summit in Reykjavik in spring 2027.