US President Donald Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb have finalized an agreement for the United States Coast Guard to acquire up to 11 new icebreaker ships, a move aimed at boosting national security in the increasingly strategic Arctic region.
The memorandum of understanding, announced on October 9, lays the groundwork for commercial partnerships between the US Coast Guard and Finnish shipbuilders, who are world leaders in icebreaker design and technology. The new vessels—dubbed Arctic Security Cutters—are expected to cost around US$6.1 billion.
Describing the deal as a “huge strategic decision,” Stubb praised the agreement as a milestone in transatlantic cooperation, highlighting the Arctic’s growing geopolitical importance. Trump and Stubb previously met in March at the president’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, where they discussed strengthening bilateral ties.
In some parts of the world, winter turns oceans into vast frozen landscapes where only specialized vessels can pass. That’s when powerful icebreakers step in, cracking through thick ice to keep vital waterways open. Click through the following gallery to explore the fascinating world of these formidable ships.