Palm Beach: President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the US plans to buy “badly needed” icebreakers from Finland amid Arctic security concerns. The announcement came after Trump met Finnish President Alexander Stubb at the Trump International Golf Club in Florida.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the two leaders “look forward” to strengthening the partnership between the US and Finland. He said the partnership includes the purchase and development of a large number of icebreakers, which he suggested would deliver “Peace and International Security for our Countries, and the World.”
Finland’s presidential office confirmed that the leaders discussed relations and security issues, including Ukraine, during their meeting. The announcement follows commitments made in July 2024 by the US, Canada, and Finland to jointly strengthen their icebreaker fleets to bolster their power in the Arctic amid perceived threats from Russian and Chinese presence in the region.
Building new ships is seen as critical to maintaining operational capabilities in polar regions. The US currently operates two aging icebreakers compared to Russia’s 36, according to US Coast Guard data. Russia has the world’s largest icebreaker fleet, with new vessels, including the 120-megawatt ‘Rossiya,’ under construction.
The plan advances Trump’s Arctic strategy, which includes his repeated calls to acquire Greenland for its strategic position.