Trump announces agreement with Finland to build 11 new icebreakers
The article reports that President Donald Trump announced a new agreement with Finland to build 11 icebreakers, aiming to expand and modernize the U.S. polar fleet. Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo joined Trump at the White House for the partnership unveiling. Finland, with over a century of experience in building icebreakers, will construct the first four vessels, while the remaining seven will be built in the United States. This initiative is part of Trump’s broader effort to rebuild the U.S. Navy and strengthen Arctic strategic capabilities. Prior to this, the U.S. had only two icebreakers, with just one operational, while rival nations like Russia and China have larger fleets. Trump has invested billions into American shipbuilding, including a $25 billion allocation specifically for expanding the polar fleet, with a goal of commissioning 48 new icebreakers. The move underscores the increasing military and economic importance of the Arctic region.
Trump announces pact with Finland to build new icebreakers to expand polar fleet
President Donald Trump announced a new agreement with Finland Thursday to build 11 new icebreakers, continuing his push to rebuild the Navy.
Alexander Stubb and Petteri Orpo, the president and prime minister of Finland, joined Trump at the White House to unveil the new cooperative partnership.
“What you’re doing is you’re going to be teaching us about the icebreaker business,” Trump told Stubb near the top of their meeting, before adding to reporters, “they sort of have almost a monopoly on icebreakers, if you think about it, nobody makes them like Finland.”
Stubb, in turn, remarked that “the first thing” Trump mentioned to him after winning the election last November was the icebreakers.
“We’ve been building them for over 100 years, and speaking of price and time, I think we’re the country that can provide them for half the price in half the time that others have,” he continued. “And I think it’s a huge strategic decision by the president as well, because we all know that the Arctic is important strategically, militarily, and in terms of the economy as well.”
The agreement itself dictates that seven of the icebreakers be constructed in the United States, with the first four being built in Finland. Before Trump entered office, the United States only had two icebreakers, with only one operational, in its entire Polar Fleet. The Trump administration recommissioned a ship as a working icebreaker earlier this year, marking the first new icebreaker added to the fleet in decades. For comparison, the Russian navy boasts 40 icebreakers, while the Chinese navy operates five of its own.
Trump has poured billions into revitalizing American shipbuilding. The president’s One Big Beautiful Bill funneled $25 billion into expanding the polar fleet specifically, and Trump has previously set the goal of commissioning 48 new icebreakers before the end of his term.
“We’re in the process of ordering 48 icebreakers and Canada wants to know if they could use them,” the president told reporters in March. “We have to have protection. We’re going to have to make a deal on that.”
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