UK Plans New Military Alliance Beyond NATO to Counter Russia in the North

The United Kingdom is preparing to establish a new military alliance alongside NATO to counter what it describes as growing Russian threats in northern regions. General Gwyn Jenkins, head of the Royal Navy, announced the initiative during a speech at the defense think tank RUSI. He stated that the alliance will complement NATO and focus specifically on northern security challenges. Jenkins pointed to what he called increased Russian activity near British waters, claiming that incidents have risen by nearly one-third over the past two years. He added that in 2025 alone, the Royal Navy responded dozens of times to perceived threats from Russian surface vessels.