Global Britain and the European north: the building of a ‘Northernsphere’ security community

In the aftermath of the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the UK reconsidered the priorities set in its strategic documents. The 2023 Integrated Review Refresh aimed to rebalance the country’s immediate post-Brexit ‘tilt’ to the Indo-Pacific and the country’s aspiration to reinforce bonds with Anglosphere countries in the region. The country’s involvement in the security of the Euro-Atlantic area has since been revived, and the British government has displayed renewed interest for stronger cooperation with European allies, especially in the Nordic-Baltic region. Building on the theoretical definition of regions and security communities as political constructs, this article aims to interpret the UK’s involvement in northern European security, that is tentatively called the ‘Northernsphere’. The paper investigates both the triggers for tighter cooperation and the various manners in which this cooperation was institutionalised. Russia’s assertiveness is presented as the main trigger for the UK’s motivation to play a role as a ‘region-builder’ in the European north. The institutionalisation of cooperation is studied, to show the complementary functions of bilateralism and minilateralism to support the UK’s involvement in northern Europe and support its effort to maintain its reputation as a reliable ally.