(NewsNation) — To further strengthen the Arctic defense, Canada, Finland and the U.S. have signed a new agreement in its partnership to collaborate on building new icebreakers.
The partnership, called the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort, or ICE, was started in July of 2024 in an effort to outpace Russia in its active expansion in the Arctic region. With Finland’s shipbuilding expertise, the U.S. and Canada will be able to meet its demands.
“Today is a major milestone in the race to secure the Arctic for all of our countries. The Arctic is the world’s last, most wild frontier, and our adversaries are racing to claim its strategic position and its natural resources for their own,” Noem said during a news conference Tuesday. “If we give up that high ground, then we will condemn future generations to permanent insecurity.”
In a joint agreement signed by Noem, Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman and Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto, 11 new icebreakers will be built over the next several years.
The U.S. previously added the Storis icebreaker to its polar fleet in July, which was the first one to be added in 25 years.
Noem said this will also strengthen the economy and provide more jobs for Americans, as workers will be trained by Canada on how to build the icebreakers. A shipyard was recently purchased in Texas, where the U.S. will later build its own ships once training is provided.