On Monday, 12 European countries called on the European Union to strengthen its strategic presence in the Arctic at a summit held in northern Finland that addressed security and economic challenges linked to the region amid growing international competition over it.
European countries call for a more active Arctic role
The countries, including France, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Greece, called on the European Union to play a more strategic and proactive role in the European part of the Arctic, according to a joint statement issued at the end of the summit. The statement linked the call to what it described as “the significant and long-term threat posed by Russia,” pointing to Moscow’s efforts to increase its influence in the Arctic and the escalation of its multifaceted activities.
The participating countries said these factors highlight the need to strengthen the EU’s policy toward the region. The European moves also follow repeated threats by US President Donald Trump to bring Greenland, the large self-governing Danish territory, under US sovereignty, triggering a diplomatic crisis among Washington’s allies.
The threats have eased since the beginning of the year. The summit was attended by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and European Council President António Costa, along with leaders from countries including Romania and Greece.
Costa calls for a joint European approach
Speaking on the sidelines of the summit, Costa said the new geopolitical reality requires the EU to develop a joint approach to the Arctic in cooperation with its partners. He added that developments in the region are not a regional issue but a European one, stressing that Arctic security is part of the continent’s security.
