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 military bloc’s 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.

Arctic security is European security.

Three EU Member States – Denmark, Finland, Sweden – 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 — António Costa (@eucopresident) September 14, 2026 Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Monday described Russia as “the most significant and long-term threat to Arctic security and stability,” saying the EU should treat the region as a “strategic frontier.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called it a “geopolitical hotspot” and claimed Russia was expanding its military capabilities there.

Read more NATO seeking to push Russia out of Arctic – scholar Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal claimed that security in the Baltic Sea and the Arctic was “one and the same” for Tallinn, naming Russia as the main concern.

The Baltic states have been among the EU’s 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.

NATO 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.