It is “ridiculous” that Moscow has 48 vessels while Washington only has one, the president has said
President Donald Trump has admitted the US is far behind Russia in icebreaker capacity, noting that his country has only one vessel of this type compared to dozens operated by Moscow.
Icebreakers are specialized vessels built to break through ice-covered waters, allowing ships to operate in otherwise inaccessible regions such as the Arctic.
“You know, we only have one in the whole country,” Trump said in a call with military service members on Thursday. “Russia has 48, and we have one, and that’s just ridiculous.”
Trump said the US is working to narrow the gap by jointly building 11 vessels with Finland.
“We’re doing them in conjunction with Finland and some other people, and they make… 90% of the icebreakers, so they have great expertise,” he said, without clarifying who the “other people” were. Trump added that he expects the vessels to be delivered “very soon” and plans to order 11 more afterward.
Trump first announced that Washington would purchase 11 Finnish-built icebreakers in October, during a meeting with President Alexander Stubb. The agreement is reportedly valued at $6.1 billion, with the first delivery expected in 2028, and was framed as strengthening America’s Arctic presence and helping “reassert US maritime dominance.”
Globally, Russia leads in icebreaker capacity, operating the world’s largest fleet. It currently has over 60 icebreakers and ice-capable vessels, supporting rapid Arctic development and maintaining shipping along the Northern Sea Route. In March, President Vladimir Putin called the Arctic a zone of “enormous potential” for trade and development.
Russia is also the only country with multiple nuclear-powered heavy icebreakers, including those of the Project 22220 class – the largest in the world, capable of breaking through ice up to three meters thick.
Amid improving US-Russia ties driven by joint Ukraine peace efforts, Russian officials have highlighted the benefits of renewed Arctic cooperation. President Putin said Russian companies have both the capital and technology for major joint ventures – including projects in Alaska and the Arctic.
