EU plans Arctic security push as Kallas warns of global power rivalry

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas says the Arctic has become a front in global power competition, citing Russia’s expanding military presence and China’s growing ambitions in the region. The European Union plans to put security at the centre of its updated Arctic strategy.

Kallas pointed to alleged sabotage of undersea cables, disruption of GPS signals and Russian drones violating airspace. She also warned that vessels in Russia’s “shadow fleet” pose risks to shipping and the environment, and said China’s investments in ports, minerals and critical infrastructure should be closely monitored. [1]

The EU wants to increase investment in surveillance infrastructure, military mobility and operational capacity. Kallas said the Galileo satellite system and Copernicus Earth-observation programme should be expanded to help detect threats. The bloc also wants to improve transport links through Arctic ports, airports and corridors so troops and equipment can be deployed more quickly.

European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela said the EU should obtain more icebreakers, either by sharing them or buying them jointly. He said they could support security, emergency response and repairs to undersea cables. Funding would need to be included in the EU’s 2028–34 multiannual budget, he acknowledged. [1]