Northern leaders call for stronger EU role in the Arctic amid Russia threat

The EU must treat the Arctic as a strategic border area to meet the threat from Russia, says Finnish Prime Minister Orpo at a press conference after Monday's summit.

A joint statement from twelve EU countries also calls on the EU to "take on a more strategic and proactive role in the European part of the Arctic."

In addition to Orpo, EU Council President António Costa, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas were present, among others.

The European Commission, whose president Ursula von der Leyen visited Greenland last week, has previously promised a new Arctic strategy for later this autumn.