Europeans are fighting for influence in the Arctic

Arctic summit in Finland

Europeans are fighting for influence in the Arctic

New shipping routes, mineral resources and security: Not far from the Arctic Circle, Merz is discussing the European Arctic strategy with EU partners. Domestic politics accompanies him in Finland.

The Europeans are taking up the fight for influence in the Arctic. At a summit in the northern Finnish city of Rovaniemi in the Arctic Circle, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and other top representatives from several EU states will discuss today how Europe’s interests in the region can be secured. This involves new shipping routes created by the climate-related loss of Arctic sea ice, but also untapped raw material deposits and security threats from military activities by Russia and China.

Merz will be accompanied at the summit by the crisis of his chancellorship after the election debacle in Saxony-Anhalt. It is his first trip abroad after the summer break, which he started with his much-criticized personnel castling. The election debacle CDU in Saxony-Anhalt has significantly increased the pressure on him from his own party. In the state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania that are coming up in a week Berlin it is also about his political future.

The trip to the Arctic summit was still important to him in order to send a signal to the EU and NATO partners that Germany is also committed to this region – especially from a security policy perspective.

Because in this respect the Arctic is much closer to Germany than you think. “The Arctic can no longer be used as a security area by Europe and the Baltic Sea separated,” says Northern Europe and security expert Tobias Etzold. That’s why heads of state and government from the Baltics are also invited to the summit to share their experiences.

The Danish Prime Minister is also expected Mette Frederiksenwhich deals with claims of ownership by US President Donald Trump on Greenland faces. Trump argues that Denmark the huge Arctic island is not present Russia and can protect China. The largely autonomous territory, which belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark, is interesting because of its military-strategic location, but also because of the natural resources suspected there.

Greenland is not part of the European Union. Only at the beginning of the week did the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen During a visit to the Arctic island, closer cooperation was announced – and an investment package of 200 million euros. Among other things, it will be used for the infrastructure that is necessary to mine valuable raw materials.