12 European nations call on EU to expand Arctic presence amid growing threats

12 European nations have urged the European Union to scale up its presence in the Arctic amid threats from Moscow and US President Donald Trump.

"We call for the European Union to take on a more strategic and proactive role in the European Arctic," the countries wrote in a joint statement following the European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi in northern Finland.

The summit was attended by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, among others.

Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, said the bloc had to remain "vigilant" in the face of increasing Russian military activity in the Arctic, as well as China's growing interest in the region.

She added that the EU would be revealing a new Arctic strategy in October "that has security at its core."

"It is clear that this is part of the security architecture of Europe," Kallas said.

The Arctic acts as an important gateway connecting North America and Europe, providing key transport, communication and trade links.

But it has become a key battleground for strategic maneouvering in recent years.

According to NATO, Moscow has "significantly" ramped up its military activity in the Arctic, establishing a new Arctic Command while opening military sites and testing "novel weapons systems."

Beijing also has a vested interest in the region, particularly in gaining access to critical minerals, energy, and new communications lines, per NATO.