US, Finland, Canada join forces to create icebreakers to catch up with Russia and China
The United States, Finland and Canada have agreed to join forces in building an icebreaker fleet, trying to catch up with Russia and China in the technological race, RIA Novosti reports
White House Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh said that without these agreements Western allies may cede superiority to opponents in ‘a technological area of great geostrategic importance’, alongside orders for icebreakers from third countries that are keen to buy them.
“The leaders of the US, Finland and Canada – President (Joe) Biden, President (Alexander) Stubb and Prime Minister (Justin) Trudeau – will announce their intention to form a trilateral mechanism for co-operation in the production of icebreakers,” Singh said.
The agreements envisage the exchange of information, co-operation in the training of the labour force and an offer to allies and partners to purchase icebreakers at American, Finnish or Canadian shipyards, which will be combined into a kind of consortium.
“We’ll actually have a consortium of shipyards in all three countries. The idea is to consolidate demand from governments and partners around the world in order to have a stable portfolio of orders. When there is a stable package of orders and strong enough demand, we think investments will come and create the desired competencies,” explained a senior official at White House.
By late 2024, the allies intend to sign a formal memorandum of understanding, followed by the implementation of the agreement.
“We will consider inviting other allies and partners to the ‘ice pact’,” Singh concluded.
