US and Finland agree to build 11 icebreakers as competition grows in the Arctic

_{Screenshot via video: Meeting on Oct. 9 between US president Donald Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb}

The US and Finland agreed to a deal that would see Washington acquire 11 icebreakers to kickstart the expansion of the American fleet as great-power rivalry is heating up in the Arctic.

A memorandum of understanding signed by the US president Donald Trump and his Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb during their meeting in Washington on October 9 will see Finnish shipyards build four icebreakers, with the first set to be delivered in 2028.

Seven more would then be built in the US with assistance from Finland, one of the world’s leading producers of the ships.

As stated, the US is procuring 11 new icebreakers for its Coast Guard, four of which are planned to be constructed in Finland.

“We are having a big order coming up. We are buying icebreakers, and we are building them together for the most part. We are doing four over there and seven over here. We negotiated a pretty tough price, I think,” Trump said as he