Finland Pushes for NATO Arctic Security Plan by July

Finnish President Alexander Stubb is calling for NATO to develop a comprehensive Arctic security plan by its July summit, a move prompted by a new U.S. framework deal designed to resolve tensions over Greenland.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, outlining his vision for a new NATO security framework for the Arctic.

Speaking on Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Stubb said he wants a package of measures to bolster security in the region. This initiative follows an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump that he had secured "total and permanent U.S. access to Greenland" in an accord with NATO.

A New Arctic Strategy on the Horizon

Stubb envisions a security package for the Arctic that is "not dissimilar" to the agreement reached in The Hague last June, where NATO leaders committed to a significant increase in defense spending at Trump's request.

"In an ideal world, we would have something ready by the NATO summit in Ankara," Stubb told Reuters.

This renewed focus on Arctic security comes as NATO’s head acknowledged that allies must step up their commitments to counter threats from Russia and China in the resource-rich region.

A Nordic-Led Security Framework

The proposed Arctic security architecture would rely on close cooperation between several key nations. According to Stubb, this would include:

• NATO's five Scandinavian members: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.

• The United States.

• Canada.

Stubb emphasized Finland's own capabilities, noting that its armed forces are highly trained for regional operations. "We have one million women and men who've done their military service in Arctic conditions," he stated.

The Greenland Deal That Sparked Debate

The call for a new strategy follows a period of strain within the alliance. President Trump had previously threatened to impose tariffs on eight European allies over their position on Greenland, an autonomous region of Denmark. He also ruled out acquiring the island by force.

The new U.S.-NATO agreement de-escalated the conflict, with Trump arguing that only the United States can guarantee Greenland's security against Chinese and Russian ambitions. His approach, however, had threatened to fracture the alliance and trigger a trade war with Europe.

European Unity and Defense Spending

As Stubb spoke in Davos, EU leaders were preparing to meet in Brussels to discuss the Greenland issue. The Finnish president said he was confident that European leaders would maintain a united front and stressed the importance of hearing from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Stubb, considered by many to be skilled at building bridges with the Trump administration, also voiced support for the U.S. president's demands on European defense. He praised NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for his role in finding common ground on the Greenland matter.

"I think it's completely justified for President Trump to ask Europeans to do more about their defence, and also to pay more for the alliance and have more capability," Stubb said. "The stronger NATO is, the better off we are."