SIR Keir Starmer was “seized by the threat” of Putin cutting undersea cables and snooping on his meetings after a chilling intelligence briefing in Norway, The Sun can reveal.
The UK tonight agreed a new security pact with our Nordic ally to battle constant efforts by the Russians to eavesdrop European politicians and spies.
The secretive UK National Authority for Counter-Eavesdropping and the Norwegian National Security Authority have agreed to deepen cooperation amid daily attempts by the Kremlin to steal information from the West’s “secure facilities and meetings.”
The two agencies will share best practice on countering covert listening devices planted by hostile states like Russia.
A source said it would include some of Britain’s spies’ “most discreet and sensitive work” anywhere in the world.
They added: “Being on Russia’s doorstep, Norway knows too well the need to out manoeuvre Putin at his own game.”
The PM is in the High North ahead of Tuesday’s meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force, the anti-Russian defence pact of Baltic and Nordic allies.
Ahead of the ten nation summit, Sir Keir was given a high-level intelligence assessment at Haakonsvern Naval Base, Norway’s Navy HQ.
A No10 source said the stark update covered the “sophisticated subsea threats to energy, critical national infrastructure, and domestic security.”
Following the bunker briefing, a source close to the PM said he was “seized by the threat posed by Russia and is focused on protecting the UK and our allies from Putin’s reckless actions.”
With 930 miles of sea border and 125 miles of land touching Russia, Norway bears the brunt of Russian eavesdropping efforts.
UK defence activity has tripled in the country since 2021, with more than 5,000 troops training and exercising there annually.
Four UK Carrier Strike Groups have also deployed to our Scandi ally over the past two years.
A government source said: “Norway is a natural partner for the UK, both on outlook and our low-key approach to just getting on with the job, and so it makes sense that some of our most discreet and sensitive work is carried out alongside them.”
