The Finnish city of Rovaniemi is located above the Arctic Circle and is known as the "Gateway to the Arctic". At the invitation of Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, European leaders gathered here to discuss the EU's new strategy for the Arctic region. Climate change and Russia's war in Ukraine have thrust Arctic issues into the spotlight in Europe.
Orpo said: "All parties urgently need the EU to take concrete action in the Arctic. Our security environment has undergone fundamental changes, and the Arctic has become the core stage of the game between great powers." The Finnish prime minister also added that the Arctic's key natural resources have also "attracted the interest of all parties."
Changes in the security environment in the north
The changing security situation is a core issue throughout the summit. Kaja Kallas, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, warned that Russia was restarting former Soviet military bases in the region and conducting missile exercises in the Arctic.
"We are also seeing China's growing interest in the region, so we have to remain vigilant," Karas said.
How Russia and China expand their influence in the Arctic
Leaders from various countries watched a flight demonstration by Finnish fighter jets at the northernmost air base in Finland. Finnish Prime Minister Orpo put security issues at the heart of the discussion. The Finnish Air Force departs from the Rovaniemi base and monitors the Arctic border airspace between Europe and Russia around the clock.
Despite facing tremendous political pressure at home, German Chancellor Mertz attended the meeting and pointed out the growing importance of the region to European security: "The region has become a geopolitical hot spot. Russia is constantly increasing its military strength here and...using its presence to frequently carry out hybrid warfare operations."
Mertz added that the Arctic is not only a security issue but also holds huge economic opportunities, especially in critical raw materials.
Confrontation replaces cooperation
"Russia has been developing its military capabilities in all aspects since the Putin era, and the Arctic is no exception," said Timo Koivurova of the Arctic Center at the University of Lapland in Finland.
For years, Western countries have cooperated with Moscow on scientific research and climate issues. However, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine ended this period. As a direct result of this war, Finland and Sweden joined NATO. The 1,340-kilometer-long border between Finland and Russia has now become a NATO border, which has fundamentally changed the security landscape in Northern Europe.
The European Commission plans to update its 2021 Arctic Strategy as early as October 2026. The summit’s joint statement called for greater investment in military mobility, cross-border connectivity and critical infrastructure in the EU’s northernmost region, including transport links, digital networks and satellite technology.
Koivurova pointed out that Russia's current focus is on Ukraine and that the war has consumed its military strength.
"But it is clear that once the war is over - and the war will be over - Russia will make significant investments, most likely including in the north, because this region is critical to its overall security," Koivurova told DW.
America becomes a nervous variable
Koivurova said the Arctic region was also affected by tensions between Western partners. He specifically pointed out that U.S. President Trump's proposals for Canada and Greenland have put pressure on cooperation among Arctic allies.
"Trump's ideas about making Canada the 51st state of the United States or purchasing Greenland do create major problems for cooperation among Western Arctic countries," Koivurova said. "This is an additional strain on Arctic governance cooperation."
Veteran Arctic observer Markku Heikkilä believes the region is increasingly fragmented. "It seems to me that the Arctic is currently gradually splitting into three parts," Heikkila told DW.
He noted that Russia forms one camp, while countries such as EU member states, Norway, Iceland and Canada continue to defend the rules-based international order, action on climate protection and the rights of indigenous peoples.
"Officially, the current U.S. position is very different from what it was in the past," Heikkila said.
Climate change is reshaping the Arctic
At the same time, climate change is reshaping the Arctic faster than any other region on Earth. Scientists predict that the central Arctic Ocean will be basically ice-free in the summer sometime between 2040 and 2050. Koivurova noted that as sea ice recedes, the region has become increasingly strategically important due to the opening of new shipping routes and the significant reduction of distances between major trading centers, giving rise to new economic and geopolitical opportunities.
However, climate policy has become yet another source of disagreement between the United States and its many Arctic partners. "Climate change is undoubtedly a big issue in the Arctic. The region is warming four times faster than the global average. So any activity we do in the Arctic today, in any form, is closely related to climate change," Koivurova said.
He added that the Trump administration's approach has had a significant impact on international cooperation, including within the Arctic Council: "Right now, the United States is actively blocking any mention of climate change. This is certainly a big change."
Finnish Prime Minister: Building Arctic resilience
At the end of the summit, Finnish Prime Minister Orpo called for greater investment to strengthen the region's resilience.
"We should increase the resilience of the Arctic through strategic investments in Arctic infrastructure, dual-use transportation networks, critical raw materials, icebreaking capabilities and technological innovation," Orbo said.
Rovaniemi, where the summit is held, is world-famous as the "Hometown of Santa Claus". Not far from the "Arctic Center" (Arktikum) Museum and Science Center, where leaders of various countries meet, is the "Santa Claus Village". There is Santa Claus’ official post office, which is open year-round, and visitors also have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus himself. It is unknown whether any of the participants at the summit visited him and what wishes they made during the visit.
