The Royal Navy's ice patrol ship HMS Protector is spending more time in port than on patrol (Image: Penny Cross / Plymouth Live)
Both China and Russia are planning to make full use of melting ice caps to increase their presence in the region, exploit natural resources, and use new shipping routes to North America and Europe.
But the Royal Navy has just one ice patrol ship HMS Protector but it is spending more time in port than on patrol.
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There are also just 13 operational frigates, and not all are capable of towing the sonar needed for anti-submarine warfare.
And the current defence review is placing more reliance on allies until our heavily-delayed Type 26 frigates are ready.
Regional expert Maria Monge-Navarro Otero said: “For some time now, Russia has adopted a strong legal strategy to gain control of the Arctic to fulfil economic and military ambitions, including strengthening its ballistic missile submarines, which are mostly based in the Kola Peninsula, next to the Finnish border.
“It is both preparing itself for a hypothetical war with Nato and an ambition to exploit natural resources and raw materials in the region.
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“Britain which has observer status in the Arctic Council, needs to adjust its foreign policy and focus more on the High North.”
Maritime expert Commander Tom Sharpe added: “What we need is a permanent presence in the region.
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“In an ideal world that means a P8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft flying from RAF Kinloss and a frigate and a nuclear powered attack submarine permanently assigned, We’re nowhere close to that.
“Even an icebreaker would allow us to carry out important research and exert soft power - this is where the UK should excel.
The eight Arctic states – Canada, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the US and Russia – have long collaborated on scientific research through the Arctic Council, a non-military body but Russia ceased to cooperate after its invasion of Ukraine.