High-level roundtable on Arctic security

Date
3 July 2025
Time
15:00-17:00
Location
Egmont Palace, rue des Petit Carmes 8 bis , 1000 Brussels
Type of Event
Round Table
Organisation
Egmont Institute
This exclusive event will convene a select group of experts, senior policymakers, and practitioners from both Arctic and non-Arctic states to discuss the evolving security dynamics in the region.
The discussion will focus on key themes such as geopolitical competition, regional cooperation, and the role of Arctic governance frameworks in an increasingly contested international environment, including:
- The gradual shift in Arctic relations from collaboration toward more competitive dynamics, influenced by wider global tensions.
- The strategic interests of key international actors in the region, including growing political engagement, military activity, infrastructure development, and economic presence.
- The implications of great power rivalry, climate change, and shifting military postures for regional stability.
- The evolving role of NATO and the European Union in safeguarding Arctic security.
15:00 – 15:30 | Registration of participants
15:30 – 15:35 | Opening remarks by Mr. Pol De Witte, Director General of the Egmont Institute
15:35 – 15:45 | Setting the scene
Presentation by Ms. Karen van Loon, Research Fellow, Clingendael Institute & Associate Fellow, Egmont Institute
Based on the report: Cold Calculations: The Future of Arctic Security and the Role of the Netherlands
15:45 – 16:45 | Panel discussion
Moderated by Ambassador (Ret.) Marie-Anne Coninsx, Senior Associate Fellow, Egmont Institute & Former EU Ambassador at Large for the Arctic
Featuring:
- Commander Rachael Gosnell, European Foreign Area Officer and Navy Strategist, George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
- Mr. Christian-Marc Lifländer, Head, Defence Policy Section, NATO
- Mr. Inuuteq Holm Olsen, Head of the Greenland Mission to the EU
- Mr. Eric Laporte, Executive Director, Regional Security and Defence Relations Division, Global Affairs Canada
- Ms. Karen van Loon, Senior Research Fellow, Clingendael Institute & Associate Fellow, Egmont Institute
16:45 – 17:00 | Q&A with participants
17:00 – 18:30 | Reception
(Photo credit: Defensiekrant)