Press release – Arctic: MEPs warn of military build-up and geopolitical competition

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by European Parliament, click this post to read the original article.

The Arctic is rapidly becoming a strategic theatre of geopolitical competition, military build-up, energy transformation, and global environmental change, warn MEPs in the resolution adopted by510 votes in favour and 75 against, with 80 abstentions.

Militarisation endangers regional stability

Condemning the growing militarisation of the Arctic, MEPs point to Russia’s extensive military restructuring, including the establishment of its “Maritime Collegium”. This, they say, in combination with China’s clear interest in the region, has escalated regional tensions and undermined regional stability. In response, the EU needs to strengthen cooperation with its NATO allies. EU-US cooperation in the area, MEPs add, is fundamental to contain Russia and China and ensure our common security.

Protection of essential underwater infrastructure and application of international law

In the light of recent incidents in the Baltic Sea attributed to Russia’s shadow fleet and Chinese vessels, MEPs say the EU should substantially improve its protection of essential underwater infrastructure in the Arctic, particularly submarine cables and pipelines, including those in the proximity of Greenland, and tighten the regulatory framework for sanctions and countermeasures.

MEPs also stress that the legal framework for Arctic governance must remain anchored in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Pointing to increased geopolitical competition along Arctic maritime routes, particularly the Northern Sea Route, MEPs reject unilateral territorial or navigational claims and support diplomatic dialogue. They also defend the application of international law to counter attempts to legitimise contested shipping corridors or project geopolitical influence under pretexts of scientific or economic cooperation.

Provider of critical resources for Europe’s strategic autonomy

As the region provides critical resources for Europe’s strategic autonomy, strengthening partnerships in this domain is key to reducing reliance on external authoritarian powers, MEPs say. They stress Norway’s crucial role in EU energy security and geopolitical resilience, as well as growing support for EU accession in Iceland and Greenland. In this context, MEPs encourage the EU to engage in deeper strategic and economic partnerships with those partners and to promote the benefits of potential EU membership, if and when that is desired by their populations.

Impact of climate change

Given the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Arctic, MEPs call for the urgent improvement of adaptation strategies, which also have a security policy dimension. They stress that Arctic indigenous peoples must be fully involved in decision-making processes.

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Rapporteur Urmas Paet (Renew, Estonia) said: “In recent years, we have experienced significant turbulence in world politics. This is having a clear effect on the Arctic region. The EU needs a smart strategy to face the Arctic’s growing geopolitical importance and, among other efforts, I hope to see Iceland, Norway and Greenland joining the EU in the near future.”