The United States has turned to Finland to build a new fleet of icebreakers, strengthening Arctic cooperation between the two nations. During a recent White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Washington announced plans to purchase 11 Finnish-made icebreakers worth about $6.1 billion. Finland is a world leader in polar ship design — about 80% of all icebreakers worldwide are Finnish-designed. Finland’s expertise lies in icebreakers for navigation and escort, which better fit U.S. Arctic needs. The deal is closely linked to the Alaska LNG project, a $45 billion plan to move gas from Prudhoe Bay to an ice-free port near Anchorage. If the gas is transported via pipeline rather than by LNG ships, Finland’s conventional icebreakers are ideal. Despite questions about the project’s profitability, the partnership highlights Finland’s enduring strength in Arctic technology and its growing role in shaping future polar logistics.
