India, Sept. 14 -- European leaders gathered in Finland on Monday to discuss intensifying competition in the Arctic, where melting ice is opening new maritime routes, vast natural resources are attracting global interest and Russia's military buildup is raising security concerns.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen were among the leaders expected to attend the two-day European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi, a city known internationally for its Santa Claus Village.

The summit, which began Sunday, comes shortly after Norway seized a Russian vessel in the remote Arctic Svalbard archipelago at Ukraine's request. Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the move.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo sa...