The UK and Norway have signed a defence agreement allowing their navies to operate a combined fleet of warships.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the "first of its kind" pact is aimed at protecting critical undersea cables, which the UK and NATO believe are under increasing threat from Russian submarines.

The Lunna House agreement - named after the Shetland Isles base used by the Norwegian resistance during the Second World War - was signed by Defence Secretary John Healey and his Norwegian counterpart, Tore Sandvik, in Downing Street on Thursday.

It will see the Royal Navy and Royal Norwegian Navy operate a fleet of British-built Type-26 frigates capable of hunting Russian submarines.

Mr Healey said it marked an "important moment" for two nations "with de

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