The United Kingdom’s “Northern Navies” initiative would combine the strength of several smaller NATO navies to meaningfully confront Russia in the Arctic.

In the 16th century, the “Holy League” coalition, organized by Pope Pius V to combat Ottoman expansion in the Mediterranean, resulted in the creation of a fleet composed of more than 200 galleys and six galleases. Primarily made up of the forces of the Spanish Empire, the Republic of Venice, the Papal States, the Knights of Malta, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy of Savoy, and other Italian states, the fleet scored a decisive victory at the Battle of Lepanto in October 1571, the largest naval battle of the era, ending Ottoman domination of the Mediterranean.

The Holy League was one of the first major multilateral alliances in European history, and it served as an enduring lesson about the ability of multiple smaller powers to combine their finances, troops, and naval power to achieve victory against a larger adversary. In the 21st century, this has largely been NATO’s goal, which also sees its strength in its unity.

The UK’s Royal Navy is now seeking to create an intra-NATO naval alliance with its European partners to deter Russian aggression and expansion along the “open sea border” in the north.

“The reality is we must now deepen and evolve this partnership,” said First Sea Lord Sir Gwyn Jenkins at an event at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London earlier this month.

About the UK’s “Northern Navies” Initiative

Whereas the Holy League sought to contain the Ottomans in the Mediterranean nearly four and a half centuries ago, the Northern Navies initiative would be about responding to emerging threats in the High North—primarily Russia, which has expanded its presence in the Arctic.

The new effort wouldn’t start from scratch. Beyond including NATO members, it would build on the existing Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), the UK-led, rapidly deployable coalition of Northern European nations that could respond to crises in the High North, the North Atlantic, and the Baltic Region.

The JEF’s current members include the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. All of these nations are now also NATO members, following Finland’s accession to the alliance in 2023 and Sweden’s in 2024.

Beyond operating as a high-readiness force focused on deterrence, which can complement NATO, the UN, and the EU, the JEF can also provide humanitarian assistance following a natural disaster or other crisis.

Jenkins suggested that expanding the JEF would be in NATO’s interests and would allow a quicker response in a crisis.

“We know we have no time to lose, which is why by the end of this year, I want us all to have signed a formal declaration, laying the foundations for what will be a vital and enduring partnership for many years to come,” the First Sea Lord said. “I aim to create a maritime force that trains, exercises, and prepares together. A force designed to fight immediately if required, with real capabilities, real war plans, and real integration.”

The goal is to create a force composed of the JEF membership, possibly including Canada. The coalition would share assets, including combining crews and sailors, creating a “family of allied fleets.”

Britainnia Can No Longer Rule the Waves Alone

The UK’s Royal Navy now has fewer active warships than it has admirals, but its naval power is far from defunct; it would come to the table with two aircraft carriers.

The Northern Navies could, at least in theory, be built around those two carriers, ensuring that a carrier strike group (CSG) is ready to respond when needed. This could be soon, as Russia is actively increasing its presence beyond the High North.

“We have seen Russian incursions into our waters jump by almost a third in the last two years,” Jenkins said. “In 2025 alone, the Royal Navy was required to respond dozens of times in support of homeland defense against Russian Navy surface vessels. That is why the Royal Navy has to be ready every day, of every month, of every year.”

Still, as was seen in both of the Royal Navy’s deployments to the Indo-Pacific, it needed support from its partners. Nor was the UK able to dispatch a carrier to support the US efforts in the Middle East when the Iranian-backed Houthis began their missile and drone campaign against commercial shipping in late 2023. And neither Royal Navy carrier could aid the US in the Middle East during Operation Epic Fury—even as reports indicate the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is finally returning home, ending its record-long deployment.

There Are Other “Mini-Alliances” Within NATO

The JEF/Northern Navies Coalition wouldn’t be the only such mini-alliance within NATO. It could overlap with the Nordic Naval Integration, which seeks to integrate the navies of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden into a more cohesive, coordinated maritime force.

There is already the EUROMARFOR (European Maritime Force), an active, non-standing maritime force comprising France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, which can be activated for crisis management. Created in 1995, the rapid response force is pledged to be activated within 5 days of receiving an order.

Then there is the NATO Standing NATO Maritime Grouping (SNMCMG), which calls for a continuous naval presence with other groups, including SNMCMG1, which covers the English Channel and Northern Europe, and SNMCMG2, which is focused on the Mediterranean.

About the Author: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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