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Frank Andrews is a CBS News journalist based in London.

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October 22, 2026 / 10:19 AM EDT / CBS News

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"Glaring gaps" in the United Kingdom's Arctic defenses are leaving it and NATO vulnerable to attacks from Russia , British lawmakers said in a parliamentary report published Thursday.

The group urged the British government to "urgently address" gaps in maritime forces, particularly with the U.S. acting "more unilaterally in the region."

"This is a demanding, hostile environment, and one that our greatest adversary, Russia, is seeking to dominate for military advantage," Tan Dhesi, Chair of the Commons Defense Committee, wrote.

The committee said that a "shockingly low availability" of Royal Navy submarines and warships means critical infrastructure, such as underwater cables and energy supplies, are exposed to potential Russian attacks.

"Russia can then use the ice to conceal and protect its own submarines while threatening NATO sea lanes , U.K.…