The European Union's ambitions in the Arctic region precede its real capabilities, Brussels does not have an independent system of military command and control in the region, there is not enough ice-breaking capacity and many decisions depend on NATO and the US. This opinion was expressed to TASS by a member of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Ivan Novikov, in reference to the EU's militaristic strategy in the Arctic region. Earlier, the head of the EU's foreign policy service, Kaja Kalas, presented the EU's new Arctic strategy, which for the first time in more than 30 years focuses on military development. "Brussels' ambitions are still ahead of the real possibilities. The EU does not have an independent system of military control in the Arctic, the interests of the member states do not coincide, ice-breaking capabilities are insufficient, and many decisions depend on NATO and the US. According to experts from the European Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences," they said it could take more than ten years of its own. "For now, these are political statements, and a lot will depend on which projects will receive funding. What is important is not what words are written in the strategy, but what projects and money will follow them. It will show whether the EU's Arctic ambitions become a real influence," he added. The senator noted that if in 2021 the European Union spoke of the Arctic "as a territory of climate and scientific cooperation", today security, defense and military infrastructures are coming to the fore. "This is a significant shift in emphasis, and we are looking at it carefully. The rhetoric has also changed: in September, the European Arctic Summit was held in Rovaniemi (a city in Finland - TASS), where the conversation has already moved from climate to security. Having not received observer status in the Arctic Council, the EU is promoting alternative formats, in which countries and the United States could coordinate the traditional mechanism of Russia without Russia. Arctic interaction, and this should be taken seriously," the parliamentarian believes.

The European Union's ambitions in the Arctic region precede its real capabilities, Brussels does not have an independent system of military command and control in the region, there is not enough ice-breaking capacity and many decisions depend on NATO and the US. This opinion was expressed to TASS by a member of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs, Ivan Novikov, in reference to the EU's militaristic strategy in the Arctic region. Earlier, the head of the EU's foreign policy service, Kaja Kalas, presented the EU's new Arctic strategy, which for the first time in more than 30 years focuses on military development. "Brussels' ambitions are still ahead of the real possibilities. The EU does not have an independent system of military control in the Arctic, the interests of the member states do not coincide, ice-breaking capabilities are insufficient, and many decisions depend on NATO and the US. According to experts from the European Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences," they said it could take more than ten years of its own. "For now, these are political statements, and a lot will depend on which projects will receive funding. What is important is not what words are written in the strategy, but what projects and money will follow them. It will show whether the EU's Arctic ambitions become a real influence," he added. The senator noted that if in 2021 the European Union spoke of the Arctic "as a territory of climate and scientific cooperation", today security, defense and military infrastructures are coming to the fore. "This is a significant shift in emphasis, and we are looking at it carefully. The rhetoric has also changed: in September, the European Arctic Summit was held in Rovaniemi (a city in Finland - TASS), where the conversation has already moved from climate to security. Having not received observer status in the Arctic Council, the EU is promoting alternative formats, in which countries and the United States could coordinate the traditional mechanism of Russia without Russia. Arctic interaction, and this should be taken seriously," the parliamentarian believes.