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Canada to work with Finland, U.S. on 'ice pact' to build icebreakers

OTTAWA — Senior officials from the Canadian and U.S. governments say a new trilateral agreement with Finland will help allies build icebreakers to safeguard the Arctic.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau walks off the stage following an official welcome at the NATO summit Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in Washington. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA — Senior officials from the Canadian and U.S. governments say a new trilateral agreement with Finland will help allies build icebreakers to safeguard the Arctic.

The "ice pact," as it's СÀ¶ÊÓƵ called, is aimed at bolstering shipbuilding capabilities in the three countries to deter Russian and Chinese ambitions in the far North.

The deal was signed on the sidelines of the NATO summit, which is wrapping up today in Washington, D.C.

Finland is one of NATO's newest members.

U.S. officials who spoke to reporters about the deal said they anticipate allies will want to build between 70 and 90 icebreakers in the coming years and they want domestic shipyards to gain from that production.

Canada's shipbuilding plan includes two polar icebreakers, СÀ¶ÊÓƵ built in Vancouver, and a fleet of six program icebreakers СÀ¶ÊÓƵ built in Quebec.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2024.

The Canadian Press

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