Finland will help build 11 icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard — four in Finnish yards and seven in the U.S. — reinforcing Finland's leading role in icebreaker design and construction. The deal, reported at about $6.1 billion, offers a boost to Finnish shipyards such as Rauma and the Davie-owned Helsinki yard, which expect deliveries beginning as early as 2028 or 26 months after contracts are signed. However, President Trump’s public interest in Greenland and strained transatlantic relations have prompted debate about potential political risks to the agreement.
Finland to Build 11 Icebreakers for U.S. as Arctic Tensions Rise
Nations are looking to strengthen their icebreaker fleets as competition grows for control of the Arctic (Alessandro RAMPAZZO)(Alessandro RAMPAZZO/AFP/AFP)
Finland has been contracted to help build a new fleet of icebreakers for the United States, a move that underscores Finnish dominance in polar shipbuilding even as geopolitical tensions in the Arctic raise political questions.
Finnish Expertise Drives Deal
Arctia, the Finnish state-owned company that manages the country's icebreaker fleet, says Finnish yards produce about 60% of the world’s icebreakers and Finnish firms design roughly 80% of them. Jukka Viitanen, Arctia’s Sustainability and Communications Director, told AFP that the skills grew out of necessity: Finland is the only country where all ports can freeze in winter, making reliable icebreaking capability essential for trade and daily life.
"We need to export and import stuff to be able to maintain people living in this country. That is why we need icebreaking," Viitanen said.
The U.S. Order
In October, U.S. and Finnish officials announced plans for the U.S. Coast Guard to acquire 11 new icebreakers. Under the plan, four vessels will be built in Finnish shipyards and seven will be constructed in the United States. The U.S. currently operates three aging heavy icebreakers, and the procurement — reported by media at about $6.1 billion — is intended to modernize its polar capabilities.
Economic Upside for Finland
The contract is a welcome boost for Finland’s shipbuilding sector and for the national economy, which has faced headwinds in recent years. Finland’s Rauma shipyard confirmed a U.S. Coast Guard contract to build two icebreakers slated for completion in 2028. The Helsinki yard, owned by Canadian company Davie, expects to sign a contract to build two more vessels; Davie managing director Kim Salmi said the first delivery could follow 26 months after contracts are signed.
Political Concerns and Arctic Geopolitics
Some experts warn the deal could become politicized. Sanna Kopra, a professor of Arctic geopolitics and security at the University of Lapland, said U.S. President Donald Trump’s public interest in Greenland and strained U.S.-EU relations have prompted unease in Finland about long-term political risks. She said that if U.S. policy took a more aggressively territorial turn, it could prompt debate in Finland and other partner countries about continuing business as usual.
Charly Salonius-Pasternak, CEO of the Nordic West Office think tank, expressed skepticism that rhetoric alone would derail the procurement, but acknowledged the broader political uncertainty. He noted that shifts in U.S. policy can be abrupt, which is why the so-called "Greenland saga" remains a concern for some observers.
Wider Arctic Context
Beyond bilateral politics, major powers including China and Russia are expanding their Arctic presence to secure strategic advantages and access to natural resources. Experts say icebreakers are essential to maintain year-round access to northern sea routes and to support scientific, commercial and security operations in a rapidly changing region.
What’s next: Contracts still need to be finalized and delivery schedules confirmed. Finnish yards are preparing to ramp up production, while debates over geopolitical risk continue in policymaking circles.
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