MOSCOW, January 22. /TASS/. Britain and France have initiated a competitive effort to supply Denmark with state-of-the-art frigates, aiming to strengthen their influence in the strategically vital Arctic region, military expert Alexander Stepanov of the Institute of Law and National Security at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) told TASS.
"This situation, which can be described as 'frigate diplomacy,' highlights a rivalry between France and Britain for military-technical partnerships with Arctic nations and North European countries. It manifests as a contest for markets and opportunities to supply surface vessels, particularly various types of frigates," Stepanov explained.
According to Bloomberg, amid concerns over a purported "Russian threat" in the Arctic, British Defense Secretary John Healey and Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen are scheduled to discuss a potential deal for the sale of Type 31 frigates, produced by Babcock International Group, on January 21. France, meanwhile, anticipates delivering its frigates to Denmark by 2030 and has dispatched a vessel from Naval Group SA to Copenhagen to showcase its tactical capabilities.
