Washington DC [US], October 10, 2025: The United States and Finland have signed a landmark agreement to jointly build 11 new icebreakers, underscoring growing cooperation between the two nations in the strategically important Arctic region.
Under the pact, four icebreakers will be built in Finland and seven in the United States, with the collaboration involving Finnish companies known globally for their Arctic engineering expertise, alongside the US Coast Guard.
The agreement, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during the Finnish President and Prime Minister’s visit to the White House, marks a significant step in enhancing both countries’ Arctic capabilities.
Speaking after the signing, Finnish President Alexander Stubb emphasized the deal’s strategic importance, stating that the partnership would not only strengthen Arctic security and development but also foster closer transatlantic cooperation.
“The Arctic’s strategic relevance continues to increase, and we must ensure our allied nations have the necessary capabilities to operate in the region,” Stubb said, adding that Finland and Europe are committed to maintaining active dialogue with the US to support Ukraine and counter Russian aggression.
During his meeting with the Finnish delegation, US President Donald Trump confirmed the major procurement plan, remarking, “We have a big order coming up — we are buying icebreakers.”
Stubb recalled that discussions on icebreaker cooperation had been ongoing since Trump’s election, saying, “The first issue we talked about was icebreakers, and we’re now pleased to announce this major joint initiative.”
