Finland sharpens Arctic stance as security pressures rise; Canada among key allies
Finland issued a new Arctic foreign and security policy on Tuesday, warning that the region is entering a period of heightened military tension, shrinking sea ice, and intensifying competition from Russia and China. The document, released Nov. 25, says the Arctic is no longer insulated from global conflict and that Finland must recalibrate accordingly.
“In the new international competitive environment, we must respond to growing economic and military tensions,” Elina Valtonen, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs said in the strategy’s introduction.
“We can no longer assume that the Arctic holds a special status, untouched by international security policy tensions.”
Finland cites Russia’s war in Ukraine, China’s increasing activity in the polar regions, and rapid climate change as the main drivers reshaping how Helsinki views the region.
“The Russian Far East serves as China’s gateway to the Arctic,” the policy said.
“China relies on Russia to strengthen its foothold in the region. Deepening cooperation between the two countries is raising tensions in the Arctic and has implications for security in Finland.”
Finland’s NATO membership — alongside Sweden — features prominently in the policy. With all Arctic states except Russia now in the Alliance, Finland says NATO must strengthen its northern posture.
Finland is already hosting NATO’s new Forward Land Forces formation in the north and says its long-standing expertise operating in the Arctic — militarily, technologically, and industrially — will help contribute to European security more broadly.
“Finland’s Arctic neighbourhood and the North Atlantic are closely interconnected,” the policy said.
“In an unpredictable international environment, Finland aims to act in a way that prevents problems elsewhere from spilling over into the Arctic or escalating there.”
Canada tapped as among key players in Finland’s Arctic strategy
Canada is also identified as one of Finland’s key northern partners in the new document.
The policy says Ottawa has “become more active in the Arctic in recent years” and stresses Canada’s most recent Arctic policy, which commits to closer cooperation with the Nordic countries, including on security.
“It is important for Finland to deepen cooperation with Canada in transatlantic security and in developing NATO’s northern capabilities,” the document said.
The policy also singles out the trilateral U.S.–Canada–Finland ICE Pact, a cooperation project for the three countries to collaborate more closely on building polar icebreakers.
“Finland can concretely apply its Arctic expertise for both commercial and defence purposes,” the policy said. “This will also strengthen the icebreaking capacity of the entire Alliance and its ability to operate in the Arctic region.”
Finland warns weakening Arctic Council would open the door to non-Arctic powers
Helsinki also reiterates its commitment to the Arctic Council in the document.
The policy notes that although political-level meetings remain frozen due to tensions with Russia, environmental and technical work has restarted. Helsinki said this is key for the forum to remain the primary channel for Arctic cooperation, warning that stepping away would open the door to non-Arctic states pushing for more influence in the region.
“Safeguarding the Arctic Council’s activities has helped prevent scenarios where cooperation structures established by non-Arctic stakeholders could undermine the status of the Arctic States,” the policy said.
Saami role seen as vital as northern security and industrial demands accelerate
The policy also puts a strong emphasis on Indigenous peoples.
In Finland’s case, that means the Sámi — the only Indigenous people within the EU — who the report says must be central in both domestic decision-making and international Arctic cooperation at a time when climate change and new defence, security, and industrial needs in the North are taking shape.
“Attention must be paid to the needs of Indigenous peoples and other local populations and to economic interests that the changing conditions have brought about,” the policy said.
Comments, tips or story ideas? Contact Eilís at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Yellowknives Dene and Tłı̨chǫ government sign MOU to take lead on Arctic security corridor, CBC News
Denmark: Denmark, Greenland agree to build naval wharf in Nuuk amid growing Arctic focus, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: Finland’s border fence almost ready in Lapland, Yle News
Iceland: Iceland sees security risk, existential threat in Atlantic Ocean current’s possible collapse, Reuters
Norway: Suspected illegal Arctic border crossing from Russia to Norway, person detained, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russia trains coastal attack scenario 30 km from border with Norway, The Associated Press
Sweden: Sweden looking for Canadian partnership to ramp up fighter, surveillance plane production, CBC News
United States: Russian warplanes detected flying near Alaska for ninth time this year, US military says, Eye on the Arctic
