In a joint effort to strengthen their industrial capacity and enhance security ties, the leaders of the United States, Canada, and Finland have announced the formation of the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE Pact). This trilateral arrangement aims to collaborate on the production of polar icebreakers and other capabilities, fostering closer economic and diplomatic relationships among these nations.

The ICE Pact comprises three key components. The first component involves enhanced information exchange between the United States, Canada, and Finland, fostering closer cooperation and knowledge sharing. In addition, the three countries will collaborate on workforce development, ensuring a skilled labor force for building polar icebreakers.

Furthermore, the ICE Pact extends an invitation to allies and partners to purchase icebreakers from shipyards in the United States, Canada, and Finland, all of which will be experienced in constructing these specialized vessels. By leveraging the shipbuilding capabilities of these nations, the ICE Pact seeks to reduce costs for allies and partners requiring polar capabilities.

To facilitate the implementation of this arrangement, the United States, Canada, and Finland will develop a joint memorandum of understanding by the end of the year. This memorandum will outline the framework under which the ICE Pact will operate within each country and will also provide a mechanism for including additional participants.

The United States, in particular, aims to strengthen its polar capabilities through this collaboration. The U.S. Coast Guard, in support of the country's economic, commercial, maritime, and national security needs in the Polar regions, is working on the construction of new heavy icebreakers under the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) Program. These icebreakers will serve as national assets, ensuring access to the polar regions and facilitating essential Coast Guard missions such as defense readiness, marine environmental protection, and search and rescue.

The first American-built heavy icebreakers in over 50 years will be constructed by Bollinger Shipyards, in partnership with the Coast Guard, under the PSC Program. This marks a significant milestone in the revitalization of the American icebreaking fleet and underscores the administration's commitment to bolstering shipbuilding in the United States.

Collaborating with Canadian and Finnish partners through the ICE Pact will contribute to the collective effort of delivering a fleet of new polar icebreakers not only for the United States but also for allied and partner nations. These icebreakers will operate globally and will be vital in navigating the extreme environmental conditions found in polar, tropical, and temperate regions.

As the ICE Pact progresses, discussions will continue among the three nations to further refine the arrangement and explore opportunities for expanding participation. The collaborative nature of this initiative underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by the polar regions.

By joining forces under the ICE Pact, the Biden-Harris administration is taking a significant step forward in strengthening domestic and international polar capabilities while promoting economic growth and fostering closer ties among allied and partner nations.