The UK and Norway have joined forces to share best practices and new technologies to detect and expose eavesdropping devices.

The agreement will see the two countries work more closely on research and development of technical security.

The agreement is between the UK National Authority for Counter-Eavesdropping (UK NACE) and the Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM) and extends and already existing partnership.

UK NACE is part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and is the UK’s dedicated National Technical Authority (NTA) for technical security. It provides guidance and training across government and national security communities in the UK and with international partners.

Technical security includes the identification of covert devices used to transmit data, which can either be used to eavesdrop or to launch other types of attack, including cyber-attacks.

Stephen Doughty, Minister for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories said: "UK security is indivisible from European security – and we are stronger when we stand together. Norway is one of our closest defence and security partners, and I welcome this agreement, which will further strengthen our collective resilience against threats from hostile states as part of our new Strategic Partnership."