US, Canada, Finland sign statement of intent for countries' Icebreaker Collaboration Effort Pact

The US now only deploys three Arctic-capable icebreakers, including Healy , shown here operating in the Gulf of Alaska. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

The United States, Canada, and Finland on 18 November signed a joint statement of intent (JSOI) for their Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE) Pact, the Canadian government acknowledged in a statement released that day.

In July 2024, the administration of then President Joe Biden in the White House confirmed US, Canadian, and Finnish leaders intended to create the ICE Pact, a trilateral arrangement to collaborate on the production of polar icebreakers and related capabilities.

“This collaboration is intended to strengthen the shipbuilding industry and industrial capacity of each nation – and build closer security and economic ties among our countries through information exchange and mutual workforce development focused on building polar icebreakers, as well as other Arctic and polar capabilities,” the White House said in a statement released then.

The governments signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in November 2024 to begin working together to develop Arctic and polar icebreakers through an exchange of knowledge, information, and resources in each of the countries.

That ICE agreement appeared to be languishing during the Trump administration, though, until the 18 November JSOI confirmation.

“The JSOI strengthens industrial co-operation among the three nations, aiming to build and maintain icebreakers and related capabilities while supporting domestic shipbuilding industries and creating well-paying jobs in the marine sector,” the Canadian government said in its release.

“By pooling expertise and resources, Canada, the US, and Finland are expanding their icebreaker fleets to better address Arctic challenges,” the release said.