European leaders are gathering in Rovaniemi, Finland, on Monday to plan a path forward for the bloc’s presence in the Arctic.
The talks will focus on emerging shipping lanes, raw mineral deposits and security threats from the US, China and Russia.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, the prime ministers of Estonia and Latvia, the presidents of Lithuania and Romania, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and EU Council President Antonio Costa are all scheduled to attend Monday’s “European Arctic Summit.”
“The idea is essentially to strengthen the EU’s common strategic approach to the Arctic in this situation, where the geopolitical and economic significance of the region is growing considerably,” according to Tuomas Tikkanen — Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s senior adviser on European affairs.
Orpo, who initiated the summit, has emphasized that the Arctic is an, “increasingly important part of Europe’s security environment.”
Finland also insists European icebreaker capabilities are included in the strategy, saying they are key to Europe’s ability to operate in the High North, adding that without them it would be impossible to protect supply and trade routes, or military presence across the region.
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EU will use meeting to shape its new Arctic strategy
No formal decisions are expected Monday, but the European Commission has said the talks will help shape its new Arctic strategy, which will be unveiled over the next few weeks.
National leaders can still have a say impacting the final document, “so in that sense this is quite a timely meeting,” said Finnish adviser Tikkanen.
The bloc’s last strategy paper was released in 2021.
The Arctic, which is warming nearly four times faster than other regions, has seen increased activity as receding ice opens potential transport routes as well as access to mineral resources.
That changing environment has spurred the US, China and Russia to increase energy, resource and military activity.
In August, China and South Korea both sent container ships through the region, testing the viability of the North Sea Route in Russian territorial waters.
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As Arctic ice melts, desire for control of the Arctic has heated up
Although Canada, China, Russia and Scandinavian countries are all considered Arctic nations, the most concerning development of late for the EU and member state Denmark have come from an entirely unexpected corner — the United States.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to blow up the NATO military alliance through his insistence that “the US must have Greenland” — a semi-autonomous island nation that is officially Danish territory — citing national security concerns, even threatening to take it by force if necessary.
Trump argues that Denmark cannot protect Greenland, which is not part of the EU, from China and Russia.
NATO has since launched a new security mission in the region.
Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, on a visit to Greenland, also announced closer cooperation and an investment package of €200 million ($231 million) to be used in part to set up infrastructure to extract valuable raw materials.
During her visit, von der Leyen vowed that the EU would “be more engaged in Greenland and in the Arctic,” saying the package would “create new opportunities and a strong and engaged EU in both Greenland and the Arctic.”
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Edited by: Natalie Muller
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