Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help tackle (a) emerging security challenges from melting of Arctic sea ice and (b) related potential threats to critical infrastructure.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recognises the challenges that climate change poses; in particular, the likelihood that the Arctic will be ice-free each summer by 2040. The UK will continue to work closely with our Allies, including through the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), to maintain access, basing, overflight, and sea lines of communication in the region. Similarly, the SDR highlights an increasing role for Defence in contributing to the protection of its Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and recommends strengthening Government powers to protect CNI through legislation and exploring options for a ‘new deal’ for the protection of CNI in partnership with private-sector and allied operators. Working with our Allies in this area is also key, and the JEF has already proved its worth having activated a JEF Response Option, known as NORDIC WARDEN, in January to track potential threats to critical undersea infrastructure and monitor the Russian shadow fleet.