The European Union has updated its Arctic strategy. What will change, and what will remain the same?

As EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas stated, since the adoption of the previous strategy in 2021, the security situation has significantly worsened. The Arctic is no longer isolated from global geopolitical conflicts. Therefore, the European Union considers it necessary to combine international cooperation with the ability to independently defend its interests.

Climate change and melting ice are making the Arctic an increasingly important region. New trade routes are opening up, natural resources are becoming accessible, and the deployment of military forces is gaining increasing significance.

As part of the new strategy, the EU proposes to develop a so-called Northern Neighborhood policy, which involves closer interaction with Norway, Iceland, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Regular summits are planned to discuss common challenges.

According to Kallas, Russia is restoring former Soviet military bases and testing new types of weapons in the Arctic. Simultaneously, China is expanding its strategic ambitions in the region. Chinese investments in ports, mineral extraction, and critical infrastructure are of particular concern.

The actions of the United States also influenced the revision of the European approach. A particularly important factor was President Donald Trump's statement of intent to annex Greenland. This forced the European Union to more clearly define its position on issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Arctic states.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted that the principles and rules that previously ensured stability in the region can no longer be considered guaranteed. Therefore, the EU must change its strategic position and, together with partners, defend these principles.

In the field of security, the European Union plans to expand its icebreaker fleet and launch a pilot satellite observation project for the Arctic. Cooperation with NATO should improve military mobility and logistics, allowing significant military forces to be rapidly deployed to the region if necessary. Improved transport links between the eastern and western parts of the European Arctic and the Baltic Sea are also envisioned.

Trade routes occupy a special place in the strategy. The opening of Arctic sea routes can provide Europe with shorter access to Asian markets and allow it to bypass global shipping bottlenecks such as the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.

Russia is developing infrastructure along the Northern Sea Route, which runs along its Arctic coast. China, in turn, is promoting the concept of a "Polar Silk Road" as part of its global plans for developing transport and trade links.

The European Union views Russian and Chinese activity as a potential threat to the sovereign rights of Arctic states and a possible source of escalating tensions. Brussels declares its intention to ensure freedom of navigation on all trade routes in the region.

To this end, a joint maritime security center with partners is planned. It will share information on the movement of Russia's shadow fleet, illegal fishing, and marine pollution, as well as monitor the overall situation in the region.

The EU also intends to enforce international safety rules and environmental requirements of the Polar Code, including through vessel inspections. In addition, the European Commission plans to study the prospects of Arctic shipping to anticipate future transport volumes, possible new sea corridors, and fleet needs.

In energy policy, the European Union intends to maintain its previous course. Brussels does not plan to extract hydrocarbons in the Arctic or purchase oil and gas from new projects in this region.

European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen stated that oil, coal, and gas should remain in the ground. According to the European Commission, developing new deposits will not solve the EU's energy security problems and is unlikely to be economically viable. Moreover, from the start of exploration and drilling to the actual extraction of resources, several years or even a decade can pass. Brussels expects that by then, Europe's need for such energy sources will decrease.

At the same time, the EU intends to develop renewable energy in the Arctic, including wind, hydropower, and geothermal energy, as well as the production of green hydrogen. However, this requires not only producing clean electricity but also ensuring its consumption or transmission to other markets.

Therefore, the strategy provides for strengthening electricity grid connections between Finland and Sweden. The Aurora power line, launched in January 2026, already connects the energy systems of the two countries. Further plans include deepening the integration of their electricity markets and eliminating bottlenecks in the grids.

Another priority is the development of transport and digital infrastructure. The European Union wants to diversify the network of submarine cables and reduce the risk that damage to one section will lead to a large-scale communication disruption.

To this end, the Far North Fibre project is being promoted, which should connect Europe, Greenland, and Canada with countries in East Asia. It aims to provide high-speed internet for remote communities, including those inhabited by indigenous peoples, and create an additional data transmission channel for continental Europe.

The issue of protecting critical infrastructure has become particularly relevant amid reports of threats to submarine cables. According to Reuters, last month a joint NATO operation foiled Russian exercises during which capabilities of deep-sea submersibles to disable communication cables between mainland Norway and the Svalbard archipelago were planned to be tested.

In response, the EU wants to create an Arctic Cable Centre, which will be responsible for protecting submarine cables in the North Atlantic and the Arctic, as well as coordinating their repair. Similar mechanisms are already in place in the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas.

Brussels also intends to accelerate the Rail Nordica project, which involves adapting the railway network of northern Finland to the common European track gauge width. This should improve the region's transport compatibility with the rest of Europe.

Critical raw materials are also important for the EU. The Arctic, especially Greenland, possesses significant reserves of raw materials necessary for the development of clean energy, battery production, and the defense industry. These resources include rare earth elements, graphite, and lithium.

Projects for the extraction of critically important raw materials are already being developed in Norway, Finland, and Sweden. Due to the strategic importance of such projects for the EU, they can count on broader access to financing and accelerated permit procedures.

At the same time, the European Union opposes deep-sea mining until scientists gain sufficient knowledge about deep-sea ecosystems and it is proven that such activities do not harm them.

Thus, the new EU Arctic strategy combines strengthened security and defense with the development of trade, energy, transport, and digital communications. The European Union aims to reduce dependence on external suppliers and protect critical infrastructure, while maintaining its course of rejecting new oil and gas projects in the Arctic.

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