New alliance with the Netherlands and Baltic and Nordic countries comes in response to 41% increase in Russian naval activity around UKRussian naval activity around the UK has increased by 41% in the first nine months of the year, a British defence minister said, as the Royal Navy announced plans to step up a 10-country maritime defensive effort in response.Luke Pollard, minister for defence readiness, described the figure as “a huge increase”, justifying a new drone and warship initiative from “the alliance of beer-drinking nations” – the UK, the Netherlands and the Baltic and Nordic countries. Continue reading...