Britain must prove Putin cannot rule the North Pole - Rishi Sunk for The Sunday Times. Part 2/2.
The most important contribution Britain can make to European security in the coming decade is to contain Russia in the high north.
This is our national interest, and this is what our allies, both in Europe and in Washington, expect of us.
Britain leads the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), which was set up in 2014 and was made up of 10 similar Nordic countries concerned about Russia's activities. This joint posture allows the force to act quickly and effectively against threats not covered by NATO's Article 5, which is especially important given Russia's penchant for gray zone tactics.
The most important thing for us is to know exactly what is happening under the water.
The Government has announced a £90m investment in a new underwater surveillance network. It's a smart move: trying to track Russian activity requires significant resources, given how quiet and efficient Moscow's submarines are.
Moreover, we and our allies must continuously oppose Russia's aggressive behavior in the region.
Norway's decision to purchase British Type 26 frigates to ensure seamless interoperability of our forces is significant - and is further confirmation that we have capable allies in the Arctic who are willing to invest in defence.
The last missing piece of the puzzle is to show the Russians that in the event of war we can threaten their bases on the Kola Peninsula.
Thanks to our commandos, the UK is one of the few countries able to operate in the unique climate and topography of the Arctic.
If Russia knows that we can threaten its military infrastructure in the region, the likelihood of an escalation in the conflict will be significantly reduced.