Starmer in Norway to discuss green energy deal ahead of defence talks in Estonia

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is visiting Norway where he will unveil plans for a green energy deal on a two-day trip to northern Europe.

Starmer is expected to visit a cross-border carbon capture site and hold talks with his Norwegian counterpart, Jonas Gahr Støre, to discuss the pact which is expected to be signed in spring next year.

Starmer said the energy partnership with Norway would help boost growth and protect against fluctuations in energy prices, such as those that happened after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

"It will harness the UK’s unique potential to become a world leader in carbon capture – from the North Sea to the coastal south – reigniting industrial heartlands and delivering on our plan for change," Starmer said.

"Our partnership with Norway will make the UK more energy secure, ensuring we are never again exposed to international energy price spikes and the whims of dictators like Putin."

Starmer's visit to Norway comes after the first projects in the UK to remove carbon from the atmosphere were given the green light in the north-east of England, with BP and Norwegian energy firm Equinor confirming investments on Tuesday.

Floating offshore wind farm Green Volt, which is run by Norwegian-based firm Vargronn and Scottish-based company Flotation Energy, has also announced engineering and design contracts to help the project.

It is estimated that that plant will provide power for around one million homes when it goes online in in 2028.

"We need co-operation, knowledge and innovation to better equip us to face the future," Støre said.

"The partnership with the UK will be important to facilitate more green jobs both in Norway and the UK and for advancing the green transition."

In a statement, Downing Street said the two countries have also agreed to work together to address challenges in carbon storage projects in the North Sea and to "develop a bilateral agreement or arrangement on cross-border transport of CO2 under the London Protocol."

Estonia defence summit

Starmer and Støre are then expected to hold what’s been called 'sky-lateral' talks as they fly to the Estonian capital Tallinn later on Monday for a summit of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a UK-led military coalition of 10 European countries.

That group also includes the Netherlands, Latvia, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland and Lithuania.

The leaders are expected to discuss the JEF's role in a changing security landscape.

The group has previously said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has increased its importance in enabling regional security for its members.

The JEF was founded in 2014 and aims to complement the activities of NATO.