China and Russia criticize new EU Arctic security strategy

China and Russia have responded critically to a new European Union security strategy for the Arctic region. The EU's updated plan aims to bolster security by improving maritime surveillance, protecting undersea infrastructure, and expanding icebreaker capabilities. EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas stated that the strategy reflects a new reality where the Arctic has become a “front of global power competition” due to the growing presence and ambitions of Russia and China.

In response, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected what it termed a “Cold War mentality,” arguing that such geopolitical confrontation undermines regional stability. Spokesperson Mao Ning asserted that Chinese activities in the Arctic are intended to promote peace and sustainable development in accordance with international law.

Russia's Permanent Mission to the EU also condemned the strategy, claiming it aims for military escalation and treats the region as a theater for power competition rather than a zone of cooperation. Russian diplomats argued that the EU is prioritizing its own interests over those of Arctic coastal states, noting that the EU's territorial presence in the region is limited to its members Finland and Sweden.