A British naval vessel, supported by aircraft, has been actively monitoring and tracking Russian submarines that were attempting to examine critical undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic, according to Defence Secretary John Healey.
During a press conference at Downing Street, Healey reported that the UK operation extended over a month, involving a Royal Navy warship and P8 marine patrol aircraft to “track and deter any hostile activities” from three Russian submarines.
Healey highlighted that these Russian maneuvers occurred “while attention was focused on the Middle East,” specifically referencing the US-Israel military actions against Iran.
He stated, “I am making this announcement to highlight this Russian activity. To President Putin, I want to convey: ‘We are aware of your actions concerning our cables and pipelines, and any attempt to harm them will be met with serious repercussions.’”
While confirming there was no indication that any pipelines or cables had been compromised, Healey mentioned that, along with allies, UK forces would work to confirm this status.
He refrained from disclosing specific locations of the operation or the particular infrastructure threatened by the Russian submarines, including two deep-sea vessels known as Gugi, but clarified that it did not occur in UK territorial waters.
Emphasizing the necessity for increased defense spending, Healey noted that the operation demonstrated the UK’s ability to deter Russian threats. “The nature of the operation I’ve described today illustrates that our armed forces are capable of detecting, deterring, and responding if necessary to safeguard Britain and our essential undersea infrastructure,” he stated.
When questioned about Donald Trump’s critical remarks regarding the contributions of European nations to NATO, Healey responded, “I won’t comment on social media posts. However, I can share insights from my discussions with his Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, both in private and during NATO defense ministers’ meetings. He is unequivocally clear that the US remains fully committed to NATO and Article 5, while also emphasizing the need for European NATO allies, including the UK, to enhance their contributions.”
Further information will be provided shortly…
