EU states to raise game as Arctic becomes strategic geopolitical frontier

European Union member states have agreed to increase investment in the Arctic amid a growing scramble for security advantages and vast natural resources.

Labelling the Arctic a “geopolitical hotspot”, a Monday meeting involving 12 countries called for the EU to “take on a more strategic and proactive role in the European Arctic”, meeting participants said in a joint statement.

The meeting, which featured the leaders of Finland, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden, focused on the race for influence over the Arctic as receding ice opens opportunities in the northern region. The discussion identified Russia as the largest threat to the European Arctic, but also noted the ambitions of China and the United States.

“This region has become a geopolitical hotspot,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told a news conference.

Despite Germany not being an Arctic country, Merz said his presence at the summit testified to the importance of the region to overall European security and suggested years of relative neglect should end.

“Let me put it this way: High north – and low attention – is over,” he said.

Russia, Canada, Iceland, Norway and the United States are considered Arctic countries, in addition to EU members Finland, Sweden and Denmark.

All have become involved in increasing geopolitical competition over the region as the retreat of ice sheets – spurred by climate change – has exposed its security and economic opportunities.