Trump Orders 11 New Icebreakers to Close Gap with Russia's Arctic Fleet Dominance

Nov 28, 2025 08:11 pm CST

President Trump has announced a $6.1 billion deal with Finland to acquire 11 new icebreakers, addressing the significant capability gap between the US (with only one operational vessel) and Russia's fleet of 48. This strategic move aims to strengthen America's Arctic presence and fulfill the US Coast Guard's requirement for at least nine icebreakers to protect national interests in increasingly important polar waters.