The key facts
- Kaja Kallas called on Western countries to cooperate more actively in the Arctic so that the Northern Sea Route remains accessible for international shipping.
- The Russian Embassy in the UK called the EU's position neo-colonial and accused Brussels of seeking to hold back other countries.
- Earlier in September, Kallas stated that Arctic security is linked to European security and announced an update of the EU strategy.
Diplomatic Reaction to Kallas' Statement
The Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom reacted sharply to an interview given by the European Union's chief of diplomatic service, Kaja Kallas, to the British newspaper The Times. In the interview, she called on Western countries to cooperate more actively in the Arctic so that the strategically important route between Europe and Asia — the Northern Sea Route — would remain accessible for international shipping and not fall under the control of Moscow and Beijing.
Embassy Statement
At the Russian diplomatic mission, Kallas' position was seen as an attempt to hold back the development of other states. 'Kaja Kallas' interview with The Times exposes the EU's neo-colonial mentality: instead of promoting cooperation in the Arctic, Brussels, driven by impotent rage, seeks to hold back other countries and deprive them of opportunities for development,' the embassy said. In the diplomats' view, the European Union, instead of international cooperation, seeks to limit the economic opportunities of its competitors.
Context: Kallas' Previous Statements
As Life.ru notes, Kaja Kallas has previously called on the European Union to act more actively in the Arctic against the backdrop of Russia's and China's expanding presence. In September, she stated that the security of the northern region is directly linked to European security and announced an update of the EU strategy. According to her, Moscow is increasing its military activity in high latitudes, while Beijing is showing ever greater interest in the region.
