The European Commission and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas presented a new Arctic strategy on 20 October. Security and resilience is the first of its four priorities.
— Arctic security is European security, Kallas said in the Commission’s announcement.
According to the strategy, the EU plans to set up a Maritime Security Hub, led by member states, for sharing information. It will also support an Arctic Cable Hub to monitor, protect and help repair subsea cables in the North Atlantic-Arctic. The EU intends to propose a pilot for Arctic maritime domain awareness in 2027.
The EU will map icebreaker needs and look at options for pooling and sharing vessels. It also plans to buy more IRIS² satellites to extend secure government communications to the Arctic. The European Defence Fund already supports ten projects that address Arctic requirements, worth around €260 million in total.
The strategy says Russia is expanding its military posture in the Arctic. It cites drone incursions, GNSS jamming and cable sabotage. It also says China’s strategic ambitions in the European Arctic are growing as it deepens its partnership with Russia. The EU’s Arctic work is to complement NATO’s, according to the Commission.
— We have to act and change our strategic posture, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement in Strasbourg. She pointed to Russia rebuilding its military footprint in the Arctic and pursuing hybrid strategies against its neighbours.