Finland takes notice of US icebreaker plans
The United States plans to order 40 icebreakers, according to US President Donald Trump.
Donald Trump has announced plans to order 40 icebreakers to supplement the country’s current fleet, with the news reported by US outlet Forbes, among others.
The country’s current fleet is aging and ready for replacement, according to the financial magazine.
Trump’s announcement came during a visit he made to North Carolina on Tuesday. During his first term, Trump had already proposed commissioning the construction of new icebreakers for the United States.
Finland naturally perked up at the ice-crushing news since Finnish companies have designed and built the majority of the world’s icebreakers.
Posting on messaging platform X, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) said she had spoken with Marco Rubio, America’s new Secretary of State. The two discussed possible cooperation between Finland and the US regarding icebreakers, according to Valtonen.
Forbes meanwhile reports two American icebreakers recently struggled to free a Canadian transport ship stuck outside of Buffalo, New York. The Canadian Coast Guard eventually managed to free the vessel.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Canada, U.S. and Finland form pact to build icebreakers for Arctic, CBC News
Denmark: Denmark’s Arctic, North Atlantic focus: Canada among new defence attaché posts, Eye on the Arctic
Finland: US, Norwegian forces in Lapland for rapid reinforcement exercise, The Independent Barents Observer
Norway: Oslo looks to Brussels for strengthened security and defence, CBC News
Russia:Russia to begin artillery firing near Norway’s Grense Jakobselv, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Biden says NATO now stronger than ever with Sweden and Finland, Radio Sweden
United States: White House releases U.S. Arctic strategy implementation plan, Eye on the Arctic
