The European Union laid out a plan on Tuesday to increase its footprint in the Arctic as global warming, conflict and competition for energy resources and critical minerals pose fresh challenges.
The EU move comes after threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to take control of Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, and after he left Iceland uneasy by posting a map with the colors of the American flag over both islands.
Other pressures are mounting as the Arctic warms about four times faster than the global average. New shipping routes are opening, China is doing more trade through the Arctic region, and a Russian military buildup is also heightening security concerns.
“When 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,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
The EU wants to help set up a cable center to monitor, protect and repair undersea communications cables in the North Atlantic and Arctic. Russian submarines are suspected of planning to sabotage some marine infrastructure there.
EU funds would be spent on cameras, sensors and satellites to detect potential threats.
At the same time, the European Commission intends to “support the delivery of a sovereign, secure, and resilient submarine cable” that would connect Greenland directly to the EU, according to a new strategy document.
The cable monitoring operation would be part of a larger Maritime Security Hub the 27-nation bloc intends to set up to track the often-decrepit vessels that Russia uses in its shadow fleet to illicitly ship oil and raise funds for its war on Ukraine.
This hub would also be on the lookout for illegal fishing or pollution and help in search and rescue efforts.
In parallel, the EU wants to build up its fleet of icebreaker ships to move more effectively through the Arctic and expand research. Officials estimate that Europe has around 10 icebreakers, most of them in Finland. By comparison, Russia has around 40.
More broadly, transport connections between the Arctic and Europe will be improved, for both civilian and military use.
A key part of the EU’s plan is to link European infrastructure like ports, rail connections, energy terminals, satellite and digital infrastructure to Arctic trade and transport networks, with the aim of better connecting the region to Europe’s markets.
The EU believes it has an important stake in the Arctic. More than half a million EU citizens live there. Denmark, Finland and Sweden are members of the bloc, while Iceland and Norway are part of Europe’s single market.
It also intends to work closely with partners like Canada and the U.K.
At the same time, the EU insists it’s not trying to claim the Arctic as its own. It does not intend to drill for oil or gas and refuses to buy fossil fuels that are extracted there, including from its partner Norway.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: New EU Arctic strategy spotlights Canada ties in proposed ‘Alliance for the Future’, Eye on the Arctic
Denmark: Trump touts ‘permanent control’ in Greenland deal as Denmark, Nuuk stress sovereignty, self-determination, Eye on the Arctic
Greenland: Greenland lawmakers signal support for Trump security deal, Reuters
Norway: EU still committed to keeping oil, coal and gas in ground in Arctic, new strategy says, Reuters
Russia: Kremlin says Greenland deal with US and Denmark is a matter for those involved, Reuters
Sweden: Sweden welcomes Greenland deal — but US rhetoric hurting trust within NATO, minister says, Radio Sweden
United States: New Greenland military bases will expand U.S. Arctic footprint, enhance NATO, Trump tells UN, Eye on the Arctic
