EU urged to treat Arctic as strategic region amid Russia threat

The European Union should view the Arctic as a strategic region amid the changing geopolitical environment and growing threats from Russia, according to the main message delivered by the leaders of Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Baltic states and Romania, as well as European Council President Antonio Costa and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, at a press conference following the European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi, Finland, Report's European bureau said.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Russia posed the most serious long-term threat to security and stability in the Arctic and called on the EU to treat the region as a strategic area.

Costa said the EU needed to adapt its Arctic policy to the new geopolitical reality. He said this should be reflected in the bloc's next long-term budget, including through increased investment in security and defense in the Arctic.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Russia was building up its military capabilities in the region and using its presence there for hybrid activities.

Kallas said Russia was stepping up its aggressive policies and using hybrid attacks in an attempt to divide Europe and weaken its support for Ukraine. She said support for Kyiv should be strengthened in response.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said work with the United States was continuing within the framework of a high-level working group set up by the two countries. She said it was still too early to draw conclusions, but expressed hope for a peaceful solution in Greenland and closer cooperation in security and defense.

The leaders of the Baltic states said security in the Baltic Sea and the Arctic was closely interconnected.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal said his country could offer the EU its experience in security and presence, as well as capabilities in rare-earth metals processing.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said Europeans needed to understand that Ukraine's defeat in the war with Russia would endanger Europe's freedom and security.

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said European countries should use the time Ukraine was giving them to prepare for possible threats.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan called on European countries to strengthen information sharing and joint responses to hybrid threats, including sabotage, cyberattacks and other forms of interference.