EU unveils new Arctic security strategy amid growing tensions with Russia and China
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (photo: Getty Images)
On October 20, the European Union unveiled a new Arctic strategy. It will strengthen security in the strategically important region, according to the EU Arctic strategy published on the European Commission's website.
EU unveils Arctic strategy
The Arctic is attracting growing interest from the US, Russia, China, and European countries as melting ice opens up new shipping routes.
To ensure the security of vital undersea cables and pipelines, a Maritime Security Hub will be established. Its purpose is to facilitate information sharing between EU members and partners from various sources.
One of the first steps under the strategy will also be the establishment of an Arctic cable center to:
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Monitor cables,
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Protect cables,
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Assist with cable repairs.
The EU will also closely monitor the Arctic as part of plans to expand its satellite surveillance network. This is where the tectonic plates of geopolitics collide, says European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
"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," she clarified.
The new document marks the first update to the EU's Arctic strategy since 2021 and is the latest in a series of EU measures targeting the region.
The Danish Armed Forces previously began testing MQ-9B reconnaissance drones in their airspace to monitor Russian warships in the Arctic.
In addition, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Greenland agreement reached between the US, Denmark, and Greenland itself is aimed at protecting the Arctic from China and Russia in the long term.
