Donald Trump has ordered the construction of a fleet of icebreakers and bases to pursue US interests in the Arctic and Antarctic by the end of the decade, signalling a more aggressive approach to the contest with Russia and China for polar resources.
The memorandum on “safeguarding US national interests in the Arctic and Antarctic regions” calls for a plan within 60 days to build at least three heavy icebreakers by 2029, and recommendations for two support bases in the US and two on foreign soil. It expands on a longstanding Coast Guard plan to build three heavy and three medium icebreakers.
The US currently has just one heavy icebreaker, the ageing Polar Star, and one medium icebreaker. Russia has 40 icebreakers, Finland seven, and Canada and Sweden six each. The memorandum says the new fleet would be used for “the full range of national and economic security missions”, including resource exploration and undersea cable laying.
The study will explore a nuclear-powered icebreaker and “defensive armament adequate to defend against threats by near-peer competitors”. The Coast Guard commander has suggested surface-to-air missiles may be needed. Heather Conley of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies noted that securing allied support for international bases may be challenging amid US withdrawal from Europe.
Environmental groups criticised the move. Charlie Cray of Greenpeace USA said: “Even during a pandemic and nationwide protests against state violence, the Trump administration is still finding new ways to exploit the climate crisis.” Polar military expert Paul Avey argued that icebreakers do not address key challenges posed by China and Russia, suggesting focus on eastern Europe and the western Pacific instead.
