Leaders urge EU to expand Arctic presence amid Russia 'threat'

Twelve European countries on Monday called for the European Union to step up its presence in the Arctic, as melting ice opens new maritime routes while growing tensions with Russia and the United States increasingly put the region in the geopolitical spotlight.

Twelve European countries on Monday called for the European Union to step up its presence in the Arctic, as melting ice opens new maritime routes while growing tensions with Russia and the United States increasingly put the region in the geopolitical spotlight.