- Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF)
defence ministers meet with Ukrainian counterpart as they launch
new enhanced Ukraine-JEF partnership.
- JEF meeting in Bodø in Norway
focused on strengthening Euro-Atlantic security in the High North
and Baltic, protecting national security for all JEF nations
- Planning underway for future
exercises as JEF completes Tarassis – its largest ever military
activity showcasing collective strength.
Euro-Atlantic security will be significantly strengthened in the
High North and Baltic Sea as the UK and allies from across the
region ramp up their military cooperation and agree an enhanced
partnership with Ukraine.
The enhanced partnership between the Joint Expeditionary Force
(JEF) and Ukraine is expected to see JEF deliver training for the
Ukrainian armed forces, and closer collaboration on protection of
critical underwater infrastructure, drones, battlefield medicine,
and methods for countering disinformation.
Partnering more with Ukraine will enable JEF nations to learn
vital lessons from the battlefield, strengthening all nations'
national security, driving innovation, and boosting lethality.
It comes as Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal joined a
meeting of JEF defence ministers for the first
time.
Defence ministers from the 10-nation strong JEF, of which the UK
is the lead nation, are meeting in Bodø, Norway, to discuss
strengthening Euro-Atlantic security in the High North, and
Baltic Sea region.
The meeting follows the conclusion last week of Tarassis – the
JEF's largest and most significant military activity in its
11-year history, after two months of intensive operations across
the Nordic-Baltic region. The UK's leadership in JEF, and the
ability to rapidly deploy alongside allies if needed, makes
Britain secure at home and strong abroad, underpinning this
Government's Plan for Change.
Tarassis, which took place throughout September and October 2025,
saw more than 1,700 British personnel from all three services of
the Armed Forces exercise alongside JEF allies. The activity
spanned across Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and the
wider Baltic Sea.
Defence Secretary MP said:
“Our new enhanced partnership with Ukraine will enable JEF
nations to step up with further support to put Ukrainians in the
best possible position in defending their freedom.
“It will also bring lessons directly from the battlefield to
improve our own national security, which is the foundation of the
Government's Plan for Change."
"Through UK leadership on Ukraine and unity through JEF, we are
sending a clear message to Putin - your aggression will be met
with our strength."
By stepping up through JEF, the Government is delivering on the
Strategic Defence Review, which recommended strengthening our
Alliances to bolster European security. The SDR makes clear that
JEF is a key part of improving NATO's deterrence posture in
Northern Europe and the High North.
As Russian aggression heightened this year, the JEF activated an
advanced UK-led reaction system, known as Nordic Warden, to track
potential threats to undersea infrastructure and monitor the
Russian shadow fleet, following reported damage to a major
undersea cable in the Baltic Sea.
At the meeting in Bodø, ministers are expected to confirm JEF's
next major exercise series, known as the Lion series, which will
be closely coordinated with NATO, will kick off next
year.
ENDS
Background:
- The Joint Expeditionary Force is comprised of 10 like-minded
nations, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania,
Norway, Netherlands, Sweden and the UK as the lead
nation.
- JEF nations can come together to form a high readiness,
adaptable force, allowing the group to respond rapidly to
threats, anywhere in the world.
