Finland, US, Canada sign icebreaker deal to counter Russia, China’s Arctic influence

The creation of new jobs in Finland and access to new markets in the United States and Canada are some of the prospects offered by a new elite deal signed by Finland, the United States, and Canada regarding icebreakers. The agreement highlights NATO’s significant weakness in relation to Russia and China. The partnership aims to maintain international rules, norms, and standards for peace and stability in the Arctic and Antarctic regions to prevent their influence from growing in these areas.

China’s security threat was identified as one of the greatest challenges at NATO’s summit in Washington. China’s cooperation with Russia is considered even more dangerous. Russia’s new top icebreaker can act as a defensive vessel if necessary. Currently, Russia has about 40 icebreakers, while the United States only has three, of which only one is operational.

Russia recently tested its first “combat icebreaker”, which is set to join the Northern Fleet in the Arctic Ocean. The vessel is heavily armed with Caliber-K cruise missiles that can be transported discreetly in sea containers. The ship is also equipped with Uranus anti-ship missiles.

In 2020, then-U.S. President Donald Trump called for the U.S. to have a new icebreaker fleet ready by 2029. Trump was concerned about the growing power of China and Russia in the Arctic Ocean, which could threaten U.S. interests in the area. He believed that the project would boost the U.S.’s influence in the Arctic Ocean.

Finland is a global giant in both the design and construction of icebreakers. The Finnish icebreaker expertise was discussed during a meeting between Trump and President Sauli Niinistö in 2019. The new agreement signed by Finland should not prevent the manufacture of nuclear-powered icebreakers, in which Russia specializes.

There have been recent incidents where underwater communication cables between Estonia and Finland, as well as between Estonia and Sweden, were damaged. A six-ton anchor, suspected of causing the damage, was recovered from the damaged gas pipeline site. Behind the scenes, China, in suspected cooperation with Russia, has been identified as the likely culprit. Measures to increase underwater surveillance have been implemented, but it is impossible to monitor everything.

The West has been slow to awaken to Russia’s growing military capabilities in the Arctic Ocean. Russia recognizes only power, and the West is now ready to respond. The Northern Fleet’s region is extremely significant for Russia from the perspective of a deterrent against the United States. It is likely that a large part of Russia’s sea-based nuclear weapons are with the Northern Fleet. It’s time to act to increase security in the North.