Only three of the bloc\u2019s 27 members are part of the region, two of which recently joined NATO<\/p>\n
EU leaders have called for a stronger presence in the Arctic as NATO expands its military activities in the region, citing what they describe as a growing security threat from Russia.
\nMoscow has repeatedly dismissed such accusations, saying that NATO is undermining traditional regional cooperation and fueling tensions.
\nAt the first ever European Arctic Summit, held in Rovaniemi, Finland, on September 13-14, twelve EU countries urged a \u201cmore strategic and proactive role\u201d in the region and called for more resources to be devoted to Arctic activities amid \u201cevolving geopolitical realities.\u201d
\n\u201cThe European Union should reinforce its position in the Arctic, including through enhanced preparedness,\u201d Finland, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Sweden said in a joint declaration after the meeting.
\nOf the 12 signatories, only Denmark, Finland, and Sweden are Arctic states. The five Arctic states outside the EU are Russia, the US, Canada, Norway, and Iceland.
\nFinland and Sweden joined NATO in 2023 and 2024, respectively, expanding the US-led military bloc\u2019s presence in the region. Moscow warned at the time that while their accession did not in itself pose a direct threat to Russia, the deployment of NATO military infrastructure on their territory would prompt a response.<\/p>\n
Arctic security is European security.Three EU Member States \u2013 Denmark, Finland, Sweden \u2013 are Arctic nations.As we face a new geopolitical reality, now more than ever, we need to build a new joint approach to the Arctic together with our partners. https:\/\/t.co\/3FBzgfJN7o\u2014 Ant\u00f3nio Costa (@eucopresident) September 14, 2026 <\/p>\n
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Monday described Russia as \u201cthe most significant and long-term threat to Arctic security and stability,\u201d saying the EU should treat the region as a \u201cstrategic frontier.\u201d German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called it a \u201cgeopolitical hotspot\u201d and claimed Russia was expanding its military capabilities there.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
NATO seeking to push Russia out of Arctic \u2013 scholar<\/p>\n
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal claimed that security in the Baltic Sea and the Arctic was \u201cone and the same\u201d for Tallinn, naming Russia as the main concern.
\nThe Baltic states have been among the EU\u2019s more hawkish members on Russia since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. All three border Russia and have pressed for tougher measures against Moscow and further military buildup.
\nNATO ramped up its activities in the Far North earlier this year by launching the Arctic Sentry initiative and establishing the multinational Forward Land Forces presence in Finland in June.
\nEU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said China was also becoming \u201cincreasingly more interested\u201d in the Arctic and said it was necessary to \u201cremain vigilant.\u201d Beijing has rejected Western claims that its activities pose a threat, accusing Washington of using China as a pretext for increasing its own military presence in the region.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: EU\u2019s von der Leyen pitches Arctic militarization plan<\/p>\n
The Arctic has also seen tensions between the US and Europe due to President Donald Trump\u2019s efforts to acquire Greenland. Trump has argued that US control of the Danish autonomous territory is necessary for national security, citing Russia and China.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
NATO creating new Arctic front against Russia \u2013 Lavrov<\/p>\n
The EU is not a member of the Arctic Council but participates as a de facto observer. It nevertheless adopted its own Arctic policy in 2021 and is preparing an updated version for October. The summit also discussed expanding European icebreaker capacity.
\nMoscow has warned that an increasing military buildup is undermining the Arctic\u2019s traditional role as an area of cooperation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last month that NATO was trying to turn the region into a new front against Russia and its partners.
\nLavrov said the risk of incidents was increasing and it could lead to an armed confrontation with \u201cpotentially catastrophic consequences.\u201d
\nRussia has maintained that it does not threaten NATO states and remains open to cooperation in the Arctic. President Vladimir Putin said earlier this year that the region is strategically important to Russia for national security, industry, and transport, particularly as disruptions elsewhere increase the importance of northern shipping routes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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