EU Foreign Policy Chief in Northern Norway – Gathered Input for New Arctic Strategy

The European Commission, EU's main executive body, is now in the process of updating the Union’s Arctic strategy – with adoption planned for the third quarter of 2026.

A key figure in this work is Kaja Kallas, the Commission's High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy, as well as Vice-President. 

In a speech at the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø on Tuesday, February 3rd, Kallas underlined the following:

“It is time for a fresh EU Arctic policy. One that reflects the times we live in and the world we want to see, including a secure Arctic. For the European Union, it is essential to ground this in strong partnerships. In the Arctic, this means close cooperation with Norway, Canada, and Iceland with whom we already enjoy close ties and have – or will soon have in the case of Iceland – a security and defense partnership.”

The statement was made with references to current security challenges, geopolitical changes and the rapidly changing world order – not least in light of the “radical change in US thinking.”

Two-part visit to Norway

Before her trip to Norway’s Arctic capital, the EU's foreign policy chief visited Oslo for meetings with the Norwegian prime and defense ministers, as well as the parliament’s committee on foreign affairs and defense. She also attended the Oslo Security Conference.

Present in Tromsø from Monday evening, with Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide as host, Kallas participated in a dinner and the Arctic Frontiers' main session "Arctic state of affairs" together with, among others, Barth Eide, Canada's Governor General Mary Simon and Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt.

Prior to this session, Kallas and Barth Eide visited the new coast guard ship KV Bjørnøya, where they received briefings from the Norwegian Armed Forces.

Updated on High North security 

What is the foremost input you have received here in Norway for the update of the EU's Arctic strategy?

“The most important input on this trip has actually been on the security side. We have received very good briefings on the situation in the High North, and this is also very relevant to further developing our Arctic strategy. We will, of course, remain in close contact and we have also concretely asked for Norwegian input into the Arctic strategy. So, we are working on this,” said Kallas to High North News.

HNN meet her and Barth Eide at a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon.

Civil resilience

KV Bjørnøya is "a strong symbol of what it takes to protect the security of in some of the world’s harshest conditions," EU’s foreign and security policy chief pointed out.

The Norwegian Coast Guard (part of the navy) carries out military tasks and exercises military authority, but also civilian authority on behalf of several civilian government agencies.

Kallas namely emphasized a broader perspective on security and safety beyond the purely military. The EU has strong ownership of this approach, while the union is also taking significant steps as a coordinating actor within defense policy.

“Hybrid threats are growing steadily in the intensity and frequency: GPS jamming, sabotages, spying – actions below the threshold of war are real, here and elsewhere in Europe. This goes together with Russia’s enduring military buildup in the High North. In response, European allies are stepping up on Arctic security, and the European Union is ready to do its part,” stated Kallas at the press briefing.

“But to be very clear: Security is not [only, ed. note] about soldiers and ships; it is all about resilience in societies, trusted institutions, secure infrastructure and sustainable livelihoods. Here also, the European Union contributes greatly, including through financial support, scientific cooperation and research tools,” she underlined.

Strategic partnership

In 2024, Norway and the EU signed an agreement establishing a new security and defense partnership.

“To keep the region safe, partnerships are indispensable and Norway is one of the EU’s closest and most trusted partners. Together with NATO, we work to ensure the stability, security and deterrence in the High North. The EU-Norway security and defense partnership is moving from paper to action, and we are deepening cooperation within cyber security, maritime security and the protection of critical infrastructure,” Kallas outlined.

“As a concrete example, the EU’s SAFE defense financing instrument is also open to Norway, and Norwegian companies are also going to continue to perform strongly in the European defense fund programs. These examples show how mutually beneficial our partnership is. And, of course, the EU is ready to take this partnership even further.”

The Arctic dimension

Along this thread, what is the potential for the development of the EU-Norway security and defense partnership when it comes to the High North and the Arctic?

Responding to HNN’s question, Kallas referred to the aforementioned areas of cooperation, including countering foreign malign influence and misinformation, and pointed to the importance of practical implementation of the consensus on enhanced cooperation.

The Norwegian foreign minister expressed full agreement.

“We see that the collective defense responsibility rests with NATO, but almost all other aspects of security – civil preparedness, cyber security and protection of critical infrastructure, military mobility, as well as investments, innovation and common procurement – also has a EU dimension,” Barth Eide said to HNN and continued:

“We are developing this through the strategic partnership that was signed a year and a half ago, and we have now agreed that we will continue to bring the Arctic dimension or the Arctic dialogue more into that.”

Pleased with preliminary output

Furthermore, the minister comments on the European Commission's process around the update of the Arctic policy in a broader sense:

“I am very happy with the signals I’m hearing on where this is heading. Because the previous strategy, which I think was good in many respects, perhaps had room for improvement in the understanding that parts of our Arctic is open for sustainable use rather than complete protection.”

With this, Barth Eide alluded to that the Norwegian Arctic territory is home to several hundred thousand people.

“This conversation is one that we are having in very friendly terms, and around this I think that we will see some developments in the EU strategy. Make no mistake, we are fully aligned on the need to take care of nature and deal with climate change, but our Arctic is also an area where people live and thrive, and that is an important input from our side,” he stated.