Pact to Build Icebreakers Signed by Finland, Canada & USA

During this week's NATO summit in Washington DC, the US, Canada, and Finland have reached an agreement to collaborate on constructing more polar icebreakers.

This initiative, known as the ICE Pact (Icebreaker Collaboration Effort), could bring substantial benefits to shipyards across North America and Scandinavia. The agreement comes as Russia increases its infrastructure and traffic along Arctic routes.

“In the Arctic, new, faster shipping lanes hold the potential to create new economic opportunities and drive down shipping costs. In the Antarctic, our partnership can also foster increased scientific research and international cooperation,” stated a joint statement from the three nations.

A senior US official told reporters, “The ICE Pact will reinforce the message to Russia and China that the United States and its allies intend to … doggedly pursue collaboration on industrial policy to increase our competitive edge in strategic industries like shipbuilding, to build a world-class polar icebreaking fleet at scale.”