US President Donald Trump has expressed frustration over America’s limited icebreaking capabilities, especially when compared to Russia. Speaking about the need to strengthen the country’s presence in the Arctic region, Trump said it is ‘ridiculous’ that the U.S. possesses only one icebreaker while Russia operates dozens.
Trump emphasised that the U.S. cannot afford to lag behind, particularly in strategic areas where rival countries hold significant advantages. He confirmed that the United States has already placed orders for 11 new icebreaker ships to bridge this gap.
US vs Russia: A massive capability gap
Highlighting the numbers, Trump stated, ‘You know, our entire country has just one. Russia has 48… and we have one. It’s absolutely ridiculous.’ His remarks underline long-standing concerns about the US falling short in Arctic operations where icebreakers play a critical role in navigation, security and resource exploration.
Russia’s large fleet has long been attributed to its harsh polar climate and continuous ice conditions, making a strong icebreaking capacity essential. In contrast, the U.S. has historically maintained only a minimal fleet, which is now seen as inadequate given increasing global interest in the Arctic.
A 6.1 billion USD deal to build new ships
Earlier, in October, the US and Finland signed a 6.1 billion USD agreement to jointly develop and construct advanced icebreaker ships. Under this deal, four vessels will remain with Finland, while seven will go to the United States.
Speaking about these new cutters, Trump said, ‘We are getting the best ships in the world. They will arrive very soon.’ The project marks a significant expansion of the U.S. Coast Guard’s capabilities.
At present, the US operates only two polar icebreakers: one commissioned in 1976 and another recently added from commercial service. The new fleet aims to strengthen America’s Arctic footprint and reduce the vast capability gap with Russia.
