The debate focuses on the profound implications for Europe’s security arising from a significant shift in U.S. defence strategy outlined in the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS). The NSS rebalances American military focus towards the Indo-Pacific and the Western Hemisphere, signaling that the North Atlantic is becoming primarily a European responsibility.
This U.S. domain reallocation compels Europe to build an “Atlantic Bastion,” anchored by a strategic naval pact between the UK and Norway. Concurrently, NATO is advancing the ‘Digital Ocean’ initiative, moving away from platform-centric operations to a network-centric undersea deterrent utilising persistent sensors, autonomous systems (UUVs, USVs, UAVs), and AI-enabled processing to counter increased Russian submarine activity and secure critical seabed infrastructure.
The Royal Navy (RN) is positioned to lead this effort, leveraging the Type 26 frigate as a command node for the Digital Ocean and serving as the primary integrator of capabilities across the European alliance.
