EU leaders convene in Rovaniemi to bolster Arctic presence amid strategic rivalry

EU heads of state meet in Rovaniemi, Finland, to coordinate a stronger bloc-wide Arctic strategy, responding to intensifying great-power competition over the region's resources and shipping lanes. The meeting signals a shift from member-state bilateralism toward a unified EU posture, though concrete deliverables remain unspecified. This matters as Arctic access becomes a flashpoint for Russia, China, and NATO members.