The increasingly pronounced militarization of the Arctic regions undermines regional stability.

Brussels, November 4, 2025 — The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament (AFET) has adopted a text condemning the "increasing militarization of the Arctic," warning that Russia's actions and China's strategic interests threaten regional stability and freedom of navigation.

MEPs are calling on the European Union to adopt a clear Arctic strategy, focusing on security, anchored in international law and transatlantic cooperation. They emphasize that the EU–US partnership is essential to limit the influence of Moscow and Beijing, while coordination with NATO should be expanded in areas such as critical infrastructure protection, logistics, and interoperability in search and rescue missions.

In light of recent incidents in the Baltic Sea attributed to the "shadow fleet" of Russia and Chinese vessels, MEPs are calling for strengthening the protection of submarine infrastructure – especially cables and pipelines near Greenland – and enhancing the sanctions and countermeasures framework. They also reiterate that governance of the region must remain based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), rejecting any unilateral territorial claims.

The Arctic is also a region of strategic interest for the EU's economic autonomy, due to its critical resources. MEPs are calling for strengthening economic and political partnerships in the region to reduce dependence on "external authoritarian powers." Rapporteur Urmas Paet (Renew, Estonia) stated that "Turbulence in global politics clearly affects the Arctic region as well. The European Union must have a smart strategy to address the growing geopolitical importance of this area. I hope that Iceland, Norway, and Greenland will join the EU in the near future." The text was adopted with 45 votes in favor, 7 against, and 5 abstentions, and will be submitted for a plenary vote in Strasbourg.

https://2eu.brussels/articol/defencecyber/militarizarea-tot-mai-accentuata-a-zonelor-arctice-submineaza-stabilitatea-regionala