With global powers jostling for influence at the top of the world, EU leaders are gathering today in Rovaniemi, northern Finland, to debate how the bloc can sharpen its footprint in the Arctic and respond to rising strategic competition.
The meeting comes after US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to bring Greenland — an autonomous Danish territory — under US control, a stance that has sparked a diplomatic crisis among allies.
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen are among the leaders expected at the ‘European Arctic Summit’ in Rovaniemi. They will be joined by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and EU Council President Antonio Costa.
“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,” said Tuomas Tikkanen, Senior Adviser on European Affairs to Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, who initiated the summit.
The talks also land just weeks before the European Commission is expected to unveil a new Arctic strategy, a document that will shape how the union approaches the region in the years ahead.
Member states and leaders still have room to influence the final strategy, Mr Tikkanen said, adding that “so in that sense this is quite a timely meeting”.
Since the EU adopted its last Arctic policy in 2021, attention on the region has intensified — something reflected in the roster of high-level guests expected from non-Arctic countries.
“The security environment has changed a great deal, and there has been a lot of interest in the region recently,” Mr Tikkanen said.
Although no formal decisions are anticipated, participants are expected to range across economic interests and security issues, and to issue a joint declaration later today.
Experts say the Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the global average because of climate change, bringing far-reaching repercussions for ecosystems and for the livelihoods of local communities.
As sea ice retreats, Russia, China and the United States have increased their activity in the Arctic, pressing competing claims over natural resources and seeking advantage on emerging maritime routes.
In August, China and South Korea sent container ships with the aim of transiting the Northern Sea Route through Russian territorial waters, a move that tested the corridor’s viability as it remains ice-free for longer periods each year.
Mr Trump earlier this year argued that Washington needed control of Greenland for national security reasons, though he later ruled out taking the island by force.
Not long after those comments, NATO launched a new mission to bolster security in the Arctic, in what appeared to be an effort to ease concerns raised by Mr Trump.
During a visit to the vast island on 7 September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €200m package for Greenland and pledged to “be more present and to be more engaged in Greenland and in the Arctic”.
