Link to article- https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/23/europe/british-navy-intercept-russian-tanker-intl-hnk
The UK Defense Ministry says Russian naval activity near British waters has risen 30% in two years. Within the past two weeks, patrol ship HMS Severn intercepted the Russian corvette Stoikiy and tanker Yelnya as they transited the English Channel, later handing monitoring duties to a NATO ally off Brittany. Britain has also deployed three Poseidon surveillance aircraft to Iceland for NATO missions tracking Russian vessels. The update follows claims that Russian spy ship Yantar targeted UK aircraft with lasers, actions Britain called reckless. Russia dismissed the concerns as hysteria. Defense Secretary John Healey urged greater defense spending amid budget pressures.
This article highlights the growing tension between Russia and other European countries. This increase in Russian naval activity over the last couple years and last couple of days shows that conflict is continuing to increase. This increase in Russian naval presence around other European countries could lead to a large conflict as it is an issue of territory, sovereignty and possible Russian invasion. This conflict is also due to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine and Russia’s history of invasion. Due to increasing Russian Naval activity around the UK, The United Kingdom Defense Secretary John Healey is aiming to increase defense spending amid budget pressures.
The United Kingdom responded to increasing Russian naval activity by deploying surveillance aircraft and most likely Increasing defense spending.The British in the United Kingdom see this increase in naval activity as a threat to their sovereignty and territory.Russia stated that the UK’s concerns are just hysteria and are trying not to draw attention to the increasing naval activity. Russia also shot lasers at the surveillance aircraft which is causing an increase in this conflict.
This issue is connected to IGO’s like NATO as well as sovereignty and the authority that both countries have over this issue.This is also connected to realist theory because they both want to be in power And protect their national interest they are highlighting the key phrase” every man for themselves”.This issue is also connected to National Security and whether or not the surrounding European countries see increase in Russian naval as a threat or defense.