Protecting British citizens — at home and overseas, including in the Middle East — will always come first. We will take whatever steps are necessary to safeguard our people and defend our national interests, and we stand with our allies in their lawful right to self-defence. Our focus is clear: protect life, reduce tensions, and maintain regional stability. Interview footage courtesy of @Channel4News

I am currently on Reservist training. Here in Norway with the Royal Marine Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron. Dusting off some old skills and drills in the Arctic Circle. It’s -18C but still workable for insertion skills. Norway is not just a strategic ally it’s a geopolitical partnership. With Russian submarine and naval activity in the North Atlantic increasing by over 30% in the past two years we need to increasingly work together. Lunar House is our bilateral agreement with the Norwegians and it’s going from strength to strength. This is the biggest deployment of Marines to the high north in some time.

The Royal Marines were in Parliament last week talking about Arctic and Cold Weather Warfare (🥶🥶) capabilities and the importance of alliances to protect the High North. Given recent global developments this has never been more important. I’ll be in Norway next week, not as a Minister but as a Royal Marines Reservist…. donning a green suit once more. See below this is what our Commando Force is all about…more to come. 👇