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On 13–14 September, Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs attended the European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi (Finland), where leaders of the European Union (EU) Member States and institutions discussed the importance of the Arctic for European security and stability, the geopolitical situation in the region, as well as the need to strengthen cooperation, security and resilience in the Arctic.
The Prime Minister participated in the summit sessions devoted to security and the European Union’s role in the Arctic. The discussions focused on the challenges the region is facing, the development of defence capabilities, societal resilience and strengthening the EU’s role in the Arctic. The Arctic is undergoing rapid and far-reaching changes that have an increasing impact on European security and stability. Intensified competition between major powers, the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine, China’s growing interest in security issues, and climate change are reshaping the region’s strategic environment.
The Prime Minister underscored that closer cooperation between European countries on security and defence matters is essential to strengthening the resilience of both the Arctic and Europe as a whole.
“Developments in the Arctic have a direct impact on Europe’s security. As the situation in the Arctic changes and competition between the world’s major powers intensifies, Europe must be more united and ready to defend its interests. At the same time, we cannot view the Arctic and the Eastern Flank as two separate regions. Our security is interlinked,” emphasised Andris Kulbergs.
The Prime Minister also pointed out that Russia poses a long-term threat to both the Arctic and the Eastern Flank. Latvia faces this threat on a daily basis in the form of provocations, hybrid attacks and disinformation campaigns; therefore, Europe must invest more in security.
“We are living on borrowed time that Ukraine has brought for us. We must use this time to strengthen Europe’s security. Europe has the financial resources, the technology and the strength. We must stand united and act in a coordinated manner,” stressed the Prime Minister.
At the summit, he also reiterated that the countries on the Eastern Flank play a significant role in defending Europe’s external borders and therefore need additional funding under the EU’s multiannual budget.
At the conclusion of the summit, a joint statement was adopted, in which the leaders of Latvia, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Italy, France, Greece, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden emphasized the growing strategic role of the Arctic for European security and stability. In view of geopolitical changes, Russia’s aggressive behaviour and growing competition between major powers, the Arctic is increasingly becoming part of European security policy. The joint statement expresses a commitment to preserving the Arctic as a region of peace, stability and constructive cooperation, based on international law.
Latvia, together with its partners, calls on the EU to strengthen its strategic and proactive engagement in the Arctic by increasing investment in security, military mobility, cross-border connectivity and critical infrastructure. Particular attention should be paid to strengthening capabilities to counter hybrid threats, maritime situational awareness, space and satellite technologies, and safe navigation under Arctic conditions. These issues are also important for the security of Latvia and the Baltic region as a whole, and contribute to strengthening Europe’s resilience and defence capabilities.
At the same time, the joint statement emphasises the protection of the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples, as well as the need to strengthen coordination and cooperation between the EU, its Member States, NATO and like-minded partners in order to promote security, resilience, stability and rules-based governance in the region. The European Commission is expected to put forward a proposal for a new EU Arctic strategy and an action plan for its implementation this autumn.
During the visit, the Prime Minister also visited the Finnish Air Force’s Lapland Air Wing, where he learned about the country’s defence capabilities and watched demonstrations of aircraft and armoured vehicles manufactured by the Finnish company Patria.
The aim of the summit was to strengthen the EU’s common strategic approach to the Arctic region, given its growing geopolitical significance. The summit was hosted by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and was also attended by President of the European Council António Costa, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, Commissioner for International Partnerships Josef Síkela, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Mihal, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda and Romanian President Nicușor Dan.
