EU countries seek greater Arctic presence

Only three of the bloc’s 27 members are part of the region, two of which recently joined NATO 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.Moscow has repeatedly dismissed such accusations, saying that NATO is undermining traditional regional cooperation and fueling tensions.At the first ever European Arctic Summit, held in Rovaniemi, Finland, on September 13-14, twelve EU countries urged a “more strategic and proactive role” in the region and called for more resources to be devoted to Arctic activities amid “evolving geopolitical realities.”“The European Union should reinforce its position in the Arctic, including through enhanced preparedness,” Finland, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Sweden said in a joint declaration after the meeting.Of 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.Finland and Sweden joined NATO in 2023 and 2024, respectively, expanding the US-led ...