Kristi Noem, DHS Secretary | official facebook
On Thursday, President Trump signed an agreement with Finland for the United States to purchase new icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard. The signing took place in the Oval Office and was attended by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines that Finland will build four Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs) for the U.S. Coast Guard. Afterward, U.S. shipyards are expected to construct up to seven additional vessels. The goal is to strengthen American maritime capabilities in the Arctic region.
“America has been an arctic nation for over 150 years, and we’re finally acting like it under President Trump. Our adversaries continue to look to grow their presence in the arctic, equipping the Coast Guard with Arctic Security Cutters will help reassert American maritime dominance there,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “Revitalizing the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaking capabilities is crucial for our security and prosperity, and today's agreement is an important step in that direction.”
Adm. Kevin Lunday, Acting Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, stated: “Under President’s Trump leadership, this historic agreement will not only accelerate delivery of new Arctic Security Cutters but will also spur future opportunities for domestic shipbuilding. With a strong icebreaker fleet, the Coast Guard will protect America’s sovereignty and interests against global threats in the Arctic for decades to come.”
The agreement builds on previous cooperation between the United States, Finland, and Canada through the ICE Pact, which aims to enhance icebreaker development by sharing resources and expertise among partner nations.
The funding for these vessels comes from President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which allocates $3.5 billion for procuring Arctic Security Cutters for the Coast Guard.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy following an executive order focused on restoring America’s maritime dominance and increasing collaboration between Finnish and American shipbuilders to expand production capacity in the United States.
With these new assets, officials say the Coast Guard will be better equipped to keep trade routes open, secure borders in the Arctic region, and address potential threats from foreign adversaries.
