The United States just inked a $6.1 billion deal with Finland to build 11 new icebreakers for its US Coast Guard, a move billed as historic and aimed straight at boosting America’s lagging presence in the Arctic. These 11 vessels — mix of polar and Great Lakes types — will extend operational seasons, support research, and assert presence amid rising activity from multiple players.

Deliveries should start in 2028 — with Finnish shipyards lending their expertise to revive a US industry in a niche sector it once pioneered (when it comes to modern polar-class icebreakers) but that has been gathering dust for decades.

This of course isn’t just about ships — it’s the latest chapter in the intensifying Arctic race, where melting ice opens new shipping lanes, resource grabs, and strategic chokepoints. The US Coast Guard as of now operates a mere three polar icebreakers, the newest dating back to 1997.

Still, much of the Western media hype around this deal has been disproportionately triumphalist. Some commentary described it as a “game changer” that would quickly close the gap with Russia’s longstanding Arctic fleet advantage. It’s not so simple.

Russia, by contrast, fields around 50 polar icebreakers, including nuclear-powered giants suited to its vast northern coastline and over two million Arctic residents plus critical infrastructure.

Talk of an “icebreaker gap” gets hyped often enough, but the real issue lies in America’s capabilities versus the growing demands of Arctic security. Northern routes are busier than ever, with China........

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