EU revises Arctic strategy with security ranked as top priority

The European Commission has unveiled a new Arctic strategy that ranks security and resilience as its top priority, shifting focus from climate concerns.

• The European Commission unveiled an Arctic strategy listing security and resilience first among four priorities, including a new maritime security hub.
• Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said sovereignty and territorial integrity can no longer be taken for granted in the Arctic.
• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia is expanding its military footprint in the high north, citing drone incursions, GPS jamming and cable sabotage.
• The EU will back a pan-Arctic fibre-optic cable linking Greenland to Europe and provide satellite connectivity through the IRIS² constellation.