{"id":2209189,"date":"2026-10-20T14:34:45","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T11:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2209189"},"modified":"2026-10-20T14:34:45","modified_gmt":"2026-10-20T11:34:45","slug":"why-is-the-european-union-turning-up-the-heat-on-the-arctic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2209189","title":{"rendered":"Why is the European Union turning up the heat on the Arctic?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/03\/36\/1200x675_cmsv2_64e6f819-5698-59ea-b75b-76605d46072b-9960336.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2935325-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2935325\" data-cid=\"9960731\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935325-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/06\/16\/189x106_cmsv2_1ce505b6-36cb-576d-9706-97210dfab26c-9960616.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Flooding in Ghisonaccia, Haute-Corse department, France, Tuesday 20 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Floods in southern France cause havoc, kill at least one\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935349-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2935349\" data-cid=\"9960738\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935349-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" 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src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/01\/85\/189x106_cmsv2_34e21617-0332-555e-b672-5689953fd965-9960185.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Photo\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Spain: Guardia Civil rescues family and dogs from rising floodwaters in Oliva\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935335-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1\" data-nid=\"2935335\" data-cid=\"9960712\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935335-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/07\/12\/189x106_cmsv2_cb9c38a3-679c-5498-a254-49e65fb5ef72-9960712.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A British soldier walks by a Typhoon aircraft before take off for a mission in Iraq, at RAF Akrotiri, near the southern coastal city of Limassol, Cyprus, Sept. 22, 2016.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    UK fighter jets to fly &#8216;defensive&#8217; missions to help protect Saudi\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          News<\/p>\n<p>                          European Union<\/p>\n<p>                          EU News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Why is the European Union turning up the heat on the Arctic?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/03\/36\/1536x864_cmsv2_64e6f819-5698-59ea-b75b-76605d46072b-9960336.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"EU&apos;s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              EU&#8217;s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">\u00a9 European Union 2026 &#8211; Source : EP\/Philippe BUISSIN<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0\u00a9 European Union 2026 &#8211; Source : EP\/Philippe BUISSIN\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspLuca Bertuzzi&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbspMarta Pacheco\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1792506885\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-10-20 16:34:45 +02:00\">20\/10\/2026 &#8211; 16:34 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links 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loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        The EU\u2019s revamped Arctic strategy puts security at its core, citing growing Russian and Chinese activity in the region. It focuses on ramping up European security capabilities, military mobility with NATO, icebreakers, satellite surveillance, and a maritime security hub.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>The European Union presented its revamped Arctic strategy on Tuesday, spelling out how much the region has grown in importance for the bloc\u2019s geopolitical priorities, particularly in areas such as security, energy, trade and connectivity.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Melting ice caused by climate change has long been turning the Arctic into a new arena for geopolitical competition, as new trade routes open, natural resources become accessible and military deployments become increasingly feasible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince our previous Arctic strategy in 2021, we face a much harsher security environment. The Arctic is no longer insulated from the world\u2019s geopolitical tensions. Our updated Arctic strategy reflects this new reality by putting security firmly at its core,\u201d EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the press conference presenting the initiative.<\/p>\n<p>In a major shift from the previous strategy, Brussels now recognises that \u201cmultilateral cooperation remains indispensable, but it can no longer be the sole foundation of the European Union\u2019s Arctic approach.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In other words, the bloc no longer sees the Arctic merely as a place to promote cooperation. It treats it as part of Europe\u2019s strategic neighbourhood, where cooperation with partners must go hand in hand with the ability to protect its own interests.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Security and defence<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The strategy sets out a new political framework for regional policy, the Northern Neighbourhood. It brings together strategic partners such as Norway, Iceland, Canada, the UK and the US, with regular summits planned to discuss common issues.<\/p>\n<p>Last November, the European Parliament already adopted an Arctic recommendation calling for a more security-oriented EU policy and closer EU-NATO cooperation, with particular attention to Russian military expansion and scrutiny of Chinese strategic activity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMoscow has reopened Soviet-era bases and is testing new weapons in the region,\u201d Kallas said. \u201cChina\u2019s strategic ambitions in the High North are also growing. Beijing\u2019s investments in ports, minerals and critical infrastructure need careful scrutiny.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yet while recognised as a partner, Washington has itself been a key factor in the EU\u2019s recalibration, notably after US President Donald Trump\u2019s stated ambition to annex Greenland, which later led to an agreement with Denmark and Greenland.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we see that sovereignty, territorial integrity and the rules that have underpinned stability in the region can no longer be taken for granted. We have to act and change our strategic posture and, together with like-minded partners, stand up to these values,\u201d Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the press conference.<\/p>\n<p>In response to the deteriorating security landscape, the strategy vows to strengthen the EU\u2019s strategic capabilities, notably by expanding its icebreaker fleet and launching a pilot project on satellite-based surveillance.<\/p>\n<p>Cooperation with NATO is meant to improve the logistics of military mobility, focusing on \u201crapid large-scale deployment of troops in and across the Arctic, when needed, as well as the reinforcement of west-east transport links in the European Arctic and to the Baltic Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Trade routes<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Opening Arctic trade routes would give the EU a shorter alternative for reaching Asian markets, bypassing chokepoints such as the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.<\/p>\n<p>Russia, meanwhile, has invested in infrastructure along the Northern Sea Route, which runs along its Arctic coast, while China promotes its \u201cPolar Silk Road\u201d as part of its broader connectivity ambitions.<\/p>\n<p>The Russian and Chinese presence is seen as a potential threat to the sovereign rights of countries in the region and could escalate tensions, prompting the EU to commit \u201cto ensure that freedom of navigation is preserved on all trade routes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To that end, the EU plans to develop a maritime security hub with partner countries. It would facilitate information sharing on issues such as tracking Russia\u2019s shadow fleet, detecting illegal fishing and marine pollution, and strengthening situational awareness.<\/p>\n<p>Brussels also pledges to enforce the safety and environmental standards of the Polar Code, a binding international regulatory framework, using tools such as inspections to ensure a level playing field for vessels transiting the region.<\/p>\n<p>The strategy also envisages a foresight study on Arctic shipping routes to anticipate traffic flows, emerging maritime corridors and fleet requirements.<\/p>\n<h2>Energy security<\/h2>\n<p>Commission officials made clear that Brussels does not intend to change its 2021 position: the bloc will not drill for hydrocarbons in the Arctic nor will it buy oil and gas from new developments in the region.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The EU\u2019s position on drilling in the Arctic remains the same, and it\u2019s very clear: oil, coal and gas must stay in the ground,&#8221; Energy Commissioner Dan J\u00f8rgensen said.<\/p>\n<p>Brussels argued that new drilling would neither meet the bloc&#8217;s energy-security needs nor offer a convincing economic case. Still, the mention of a moratorium, strongly opposed by Norway even if non-binding, was softened from the final version,<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven if there were to be development, exploration, and even drilling activities in the Arctic, it will take several years up to a decade easily to get that out of the ground,\u201d one Commission official said, arguing that the bloc would not need those resources by then.<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, the Commission wants to develop the Arctic\u2019s potential for renewable energy, including wind, hydropower, geothermal power and renewable hydrogen. But EU officials acknowledged that producing clean energy is only part of the challenge.<\/p>\n<p>Electricity must either be used locally or connected to markets capable of absorbing it; hence, the strategy points to stronger electricity connections between Finland and Sweden. <\/p>\n<p>The Aurora power line, inaugurated in January 2026, is already linking the two countries\u2019 electricity grids, with further work envisaged to deepen electricity-market integration and ease grid bottlenecks.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Connectivity infrastructure<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Connectivity is another major pillar of the EU\u2019s Arctic policy. The bloc has been trying to diversify its subsea cable infrastructure and avoid single points of failure through the Far North Fibre, which would link Europe, Greenland and Canada to east Asian countries.<\/p>\n<p>This network is meant to bring high-speed broadband to remote indigenous towns and also serve as a vital redundant data route for mainland Europe, ensuring more secure data sharing and telecommunications.<\/p>\n<p>Critical infrastructure has also become a prime target in a hybrid campaign that Russia has been escalating in recent weeks, including attacks on submarine infrastructure such as undersea cables.<\/p>\n<p>According to Reuters, a joint NATO operation last month disrupted a Russian exercise testing new deep-sea submarine capabilities designed to disable undersea cables, with the aim of cutting the connection between mainland Norway and the Svalbard archipelago.<\/p>\n<p>The strategy therefore plans an Arctic cable hub to protect and support the repair of submarine cables in the North Atlantic and Arctic, following the model used in the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.<\/p>\n<p>Brussels is fast-tracking Rail Nordica \u2014 a massive engineering project to migrate northern Finland&#8217;s railway network to the standardised pan-European track gauge.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Critical raw materials<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Arctic in general, and Greenland in particular, holds deposits of minerals considered critical for Europe\u2019s clean-energy transition, batteries and defence industry, including rare earths, graphite and lithium.<\/p>\n<p>Critical raw materials projects are under way in Norway, Finland and Sweden, which benefit from facilitated conditions such as access to finance and faster permitting because of their strategic relevance.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, \u201cthe EU will continue to advocate against deep-sea mining until the scientific gaps on deep-sea ecosystems are properly filled, until it can be demonstrated that no harmful effects arise from deep-sea mining,\u201d the strategy reads.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  EU eyes Arctic cable linking Greenland to Europe amid growing security threats<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Brussels to keep ban on Arctic oil and gas drilling despite Norwegian pressure<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Norway seizes Russian ship in the Arctic over Ukraine&#8217;s $4.2 billion Crimea claim<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Kaja Kallas<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Common Security and Defence Policy<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Arctic<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  NATO<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__title\">Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2935349-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935349\" data-cid=\"9960738\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935349-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/07\/38\/320x180_cmsv2_07592fd2-4450-5c81-bced-58ef5dc684f2-9960738.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Washington.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Time to make a deal,&#8217; Trump tells Zelenskyy<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2935280-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935280\" data-cid=\"9960472\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935280-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/04\/72\/320x180_cmsv2_b3e97121-cd70-5cd7-9ba1-cf9583047c6c-9960472.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Interior Minister Laurent Nunez (left) and Prime Minister S\u00e9bastien Lecornu (right), Monday 19 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    France vows major security operation involving military this weekend<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2935268-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935268\" data-cid=\"9960339\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935268-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/03\/39\/320x180_cmsv2_a685cd1d-9610-5369-bedc-fd30112084e1-9960339.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Qatar&apos;s Defence Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron in Doha, 20 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  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height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935349-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935349\" data-cid=\"9960738\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935349-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/07\/38\/320x180_cmsv2_07592fd2-4450-5c81-bced-58ef5dc684f2-9960738.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Washington.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Time to make a deal,&#8217; Trump tells Zelenskyy<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2935280-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2935280\" data-cid=\"9960472\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2935280-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/04\/72\/320x180_cmsv2_b3e97121-cd70-5cd7-9ba1-cf9583047c6c-9960472.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Interior Minister Laurent Nunez (left) and Prime Minister S\u00e9bastien Lecornu (right), Monday 19 October 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div 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data-key=\"articleBody\">The European Union presented its revamped Arctic strategy on Tuesday, spelling out how much the region has grown in importance for the bloc\u2019s geopolitical priorities, particularly in areas such as security, energy, trade and connectivity.Melting ice caused by climate change has long been turning the Arctic into a new arena for geopolitical competition, as new trade routes open, natural resources become accessible and military deployments become increasingly feasible.\u201cSince our previous Arctic strategy in 2021, we face a much harsher security environment. The Arctic is no longer insulated from the world\u2019s geopolitical tensions. Our updated Arctic strategy reflects this new reality by putting security firmly at its core,\u201d EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the press conference presenting the initiative.In a major shift from the previous strategy, Brussels now recognises that \u201cmultilateral cooperation remains indispensable, but it can no longer be the sole foundation of the European Union\u2019s Arctic approach.\u201dIn other words, the bloc no longer sees the Arctic merely as a place to promote cooperation. It treats it as part of Europe\u2019s strategic neighbourhood, where cooperation with partners must go hand in hand with the ability to protect its own interests.Security and defenceThe strategy sets out a new political framework for regional policy, the Northern Neighbourhood. It brings together strategic partners such as Norway, Iceland, Canada, the UK and the US, with regular summits planned to discuss common issues.Last November, the European Parliament already adopted an Arctic recommendation calling for a more security-oriented EU policy and closer EU-NATO cooperation, with particular attention to Russian military expansion and scrutiny of Chinese strategic activity.\u201cMoscow has reopened Soviet-era bases and is testing new weapons in the region,\u201d Kallas said. \u201cChina\u2019s strategic ambitions in the High North are also growing. Beijing\u2019s investments in ports, minerals and critical infrastructure need careful scrutiny.\u201dYet while recognised as a partner, Washington has itself been a key factor in the EU\u2019s recalibration, notably after US President Donald Trump\u2019s stated ambition to annex Greenland, which later led to an agreement with Denmark and Greenland.\u201cWhen we see that sovereignty, territorial integrity and the rules that have underpinned stability in the region can no longer be taken for granted. We have to act and change our strategic posture and, together with like-minded partners, stand up to these values,\u201d Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the press conference.In response to the deteriorating security landscape, the strategy vows to strengthen the EU\u2019s strategic capabilities, notably by expanding its icebreaker fleet and launching a pilot project on satellite-based surveillance.Cooperation with NATO is meant to improve the logistics of military mobility, focusing on \u201crapid large-scale deployment of troops in and across the Arctic, when needed, as well as the reinforcement of west-east transport links in the European Arctic and to the Baltic Sea.\u201dTrade routesOpening Arctic trade routes would give the EU a shorter alternative for reaching Asian markets, bypassing chokepoints such as the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.Russia, meanwhile, has invested in infrastructure along the Northern Sea Route, which runs along its Arctic coast, while China promotes its \u201cPolar Silk Road\u201d as part of its broader connectivity ambitions.The Russian and Chinese presence is seen as a potential threat to the sovereign rights of countries in the region and could escalate tensions, prompting the EU to commit \u201cto ensure that freedom of navigation is preserved on all trade routes.\u201dTo that end, the EU plans to develop a maritime security hub with partner countries. It would facilitate information sharing on issues such as tracking Russia\u2019s shadow fleet, detecting illegal fishing and marine pollution, and strengthening situational awareness.Brussels also pledges to enforce the safety and environmental standards of the Polar Code, a binding international regulatory framework, using tools such as inspections to ensure a level playing field for vessels transiting the region.The strategy also envisages a foresight study on Arctic shipping routes to anticipate traffic flows, emerging maritime corridors and fleet requirements.Energy securityCommission officials made clear that Brussels does not intend to change its 2021 position: the bloc will not drill for hydrocarbons in the Arctic nor will it buy oil and gas from new developments in the region.&#8221;The EU\u2019s position on drilling in the Arctic remains the same, and it\u2019s very clear: oil, coal and gas must stay in the ground,&#8221; Energy Commissioner Dan J\u00f8rgensen said.Brussels argued that new drilling would neither meet the bloc&#8217;s energy-security needs nor offer a convincing economic case. Still, the mention of a moratorium, strongly opposed by Norway even if non-binding, was softened from the final version,\u201cEven if there were to be development, exploration, and even drilling activities in the Arctic, it will take several years up to a decade easily to get that out of the ground,\u201d one Commission official said, arguing that the bloc would not need those resources by then.Conversely, the Commission wants to develop the Arctic\u2019s potential for renewable energy, including wind, hydropower, geothermal power and renewable hydrogen. But EU officials acknowledged that producing clean energy is only part of the challenge.Electricity must either be used locally or connected to markets capable of absorbing it; hence, the strategy points to stronger electricity connections between Finland and Sweden.The Aurora power line, inaugurated in January 2026, is already linking the two countries\u2019 electricity grids, with further work envisaged to deepen electricity-market integration and ease grid bottlenecks.Connectivity infrastructureConnectivity is another major pillar of the EU\u2019s Arctic policy. The bloc has been trying to diversify its subsea cable infrastructure and avoid single points of failure through the Far North Fibre, which would link Europe, Greenland and Canada to east Asian countries.This network is meant to bring high-speed broadband to remote indigenous towns and also serve as a vital redundant data route for mainland Europe, ensuring more secure data sharing and telecommunications.Critical infrastructure has also become a prime target in a hybrid campaign that Russia has been escalating in recent weeks, including attacks on submarine infrastructure such as undersea cables.According to Reuters, a joint NATO operation last month disrupted a Russian exercise testing new deep-sea submarine capabilities designed to disable undersea cables, with the aim of cutting the connection between mainland Norway and the Svalbard archipelago.The strategy therefore plans an Arctic cable hub to protect and support the repair of submarine cables in the North Atlantic and Arctic, following the model used in the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.Brussels is fast-tracking Rail Nordica \u2014 a massive engineering project to migrate northern Finland&#8217;s railway network to the standardised pan-European track gauge.Critical raw materialsThe Arctic in general, and Greenland in particular, holds deposits of minerals considered critical for Europe\u2019s clean-energy transition, batteries and defence industry, including rare earths, graphite and lithium.Critical raw materials projects are under way in Norway, Finland and Sweden, which benefit from facilitated conditions such as access to finance and faster permitting because of their strategic relevance.At the same time, \u201cthe EU will continue to advocate against deep-sea mining until the scientific gaps on deep-sea ecosystems are properly filled, until it can be demonstrated that no harmful effects arise from deep-sea mining,\u201d the strategy reads.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/10\/20\/why-is-the-european-union-turning-up-the-heat-on-the-arctic&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/96\/03\/36\/1200x675_cmsv2_64e6f819-5698-59ea-b75b-76605d46072b-9960336.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Floods in southern France cause havoc, kill at least one USA &#8216;Time to make a deal,&#8217; Trump tells Zelenskyy No Comment Spain: Guardia Civil rescues family and dogs from rising floodwaters in Oliva Europe News UK fighter jets to fly &#8216;defensive&#8217; missions to help protect Saudi News European Union EU [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2209189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2209189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2209189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2209189\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2209189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2209189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2209189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}