Arctic MEPs warn of rising military tension and geopolitical rivalry

Members of the European Parliament who work on Arctic policy and sit on foreign affairs and security committees are warning that the High North is becoming a strategic flashpoint as military activity and geopolitical competition increase. These “Arctic MEPs” are not a formal bloc but a group of lawmakers who regularly shape the EU’s approach to the region through resolutions and debates.

In a new resolution, they argue that the Arctic is shifting from a zone of relatively low tension to one marked by growing military build-up and sharper rivalry among major powers. The text singles out Russia’s extensive restructuring of its northern forces and China’s growing interest in the region as developments that could undermine regional stability and test international law.

The resolution urges the EU to adopt a more security-minded Arctic strategy, strengthen cooperation with NATO allies and the United States and better protect critical infrastructure such as submarine cables and pipelines, including those near Greenland. It also stresses that Arctic development must respect the rights of Indigenous communities and be guided by sustainable, rules-based governance.

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.”