President Trump proposed that the U.S. order 40 icebreakers for the Coast Guard. The U.S. Coast Guard is expanding its icebreaker fleet, including Polar Security Cutters. The Maritime Executive reports:
In a speech last week in North Carolina, President Donald Trump suggested that the U.S. would soon be ordering 40 big icebreakers for the Coast Guard, and that Canada wants in on the deal.
Asked about U.S. trade relations with Britain, Trump gave his thoughts on why Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. The U.S. is losing too much money to Canada on trade deficits, he said, and joining the U.S. would mean lower taxes (and no U.S. tariffs) for Canadians.
“Why are we paying all of that money to Canada when, you know, we — we could use it ourselves, right? […]
Canada has had prior involvement with America’s icebreaker ambitions. Last year, under the previous administration, the U.S., Canada and Finland announced an icebreaker technology-transfer initiative called the ICE Pact (Icebreaker Collaboration Effort). Finland’s Helsinki Shipyard is the recognized leader in icebreaker construction outside of Russia, and it was recently purchased by Davie, the Canadian shipyard that holds Canada’s “program icebreaker” contract. Davie has pledged to invest in a U.S. facility to build icebreakers for the international market, once it secures the right shipyard partner.
“It is about providing the capability for like-minded nations to uphold international rules, norms, and standards to sustain peace and stability in the Arctic and Antarctic regions for generations to come,” the three nations said in a statement at the time.
Read more here.
Also read, The U.S. Navy Desperately Needs Icebreakers, Coast Guard Faces Challenges in Expanding Icebreaker Fleet, Russia’s ‘Combat Icebreaker’ Sets Sail, The Arctic Buildup: A New Cold War, and U.S. Coast Guard Admiral: Potential Russian ‘Checkmate’ in the Arctic.