**MILAN —** An agreement was reached between Finland, Canada, and the United States to jointly build icebreaker ships, which may facilitate stronger cooperation among Arctic nations. This arrangement comes as Washington seeks to enhance its icebreaker fleet in response to increased Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic.
The agreement, referred to as the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort or ICE Pact, was signed in **July 2024** during NATO’s **75th anniversary summit** in Washington, D.C. The pact aims to merge the three nations’ knowledge, resources, and expertise concerning the Arctic and polar icebreaker construction.
The primary goal of the ICE Pact is to collectively create state-of-the-art icebreakers capable of year-round operations in Arctic waters, thereby facilitating maritime traffic in a region undergoing changes due to climate change. It is anticipated that collaboration among the three countries will lead to lower costs and faster project deliveries.
In **November 2024**, an additional memorandum of understanding was signed in Washington, highlighting the need for increased economic and security cooperation in the strategic polar regions.
As of **January 2025**, following Donald Trump’s swearing-in as U.S. president, there were tensions as he made controversial remarks about Canada and Greenland, suggesting they should become part of the U.S. These comments faced backlash from leaders in Canada and Denmark, who were adamant about defending their territorial integrity.
A spokesperson for Public Services and Procurement Canada stated that Trump’s remarks had not undermined the ICE Pact, confirming Canada’s dedication to the collaboration with the U.S. and Finland. As of **January 22, 2025**, the agreement remains intact with no changes to ongoing initiatives.
Each of the three nations has appointed national coordination teams for the ICE Pact, which are now developing a collaborative plan through four working groups.
During his first term, Trump emphasized the requirement to strengthen the U.S. icebreaker fleet. In **2020**, he asserted the necessity for a “ready, capable, and available fleet of polar security icebreakers” that would be operationally ready by **fiscal year 2029**. However, the U.S. is lagging behind in achieving this target.
Adm. Linda Fagan, former commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, noted at the **Halifax International Security Forum** in **November 2024** that the U.S. has only one heavy icebreaker compared to nearly **40** operated by Russia.
While there are different classifications for icebreakers, the U.S. and Canada classify them as light, medium, and heavy based on ice thickness, whereas Russia categorizes its fleet by mission and technical characteristics.
In **2023**, the Canadian shipyard Davie acquired Finland’s Helsinki Shipyard, known for producing over **50%** of the global icebreaker fleet. This acquisition included the transfer of Finland’s expertise, designs, and trained personnel to Canada.
According to Davie, the demand for specialized icebreaker ships is currently at an all-time high, with over **80** ongoing projects reported in **July 2024** among Western countries. Experts believe the ICE Pact will significantly benefit the U.S. defense industrial base, which has been grappling with schedule delays and budget overruns in naval shipbuilding.
**Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo** is a Europe correspondent for Defense News, covering military procurement and international security with a specialization in the aviation sector, based in Milan, Italy.
