Joint Statement of Intent for the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort

The following is a Joint Statement of Intent among the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of the Republic of Finland, and the Department of Public Works and Government Services of Canada.

Statement of Intent

The Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of the Republic of Finland, and the Department of Public Works and Government Services of Canada, hereinafter referred to as the "Participants":

• Recognizing that the strategic context of the polar regions and meeting the challenges posed by disruptive forces requires increasing collaboration among the Participants in order to secure stable and peaceful development
• Affirming the Participants' roles as their respective government's lead agencies within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding Among the Government of Canada, the Government of the Republic of Finland, and the Government of the United States of America Regarding a Trilateral Framework for the Production of Arctic and Polar Icebreakers and other Capabilities (the "ICE Pact MOU")
• Reflecting on the progress the Participants have driven through their actions to implement the ICE Pact MOU over the course of the previous year
• Celebrating the tremendous successes the Participants have achieved over the course of the previous year, particularly in the fostering of trilateral industrial collaboration, exploring innovative ways to review procurement policies, and promoting the exchange of critical information
• Observing that industry, the workforce, and academia have responded enthusiastically to opportunities generated by ICE Pact, and that the trilateral governments have worked with these stakeholders to translate this enthusiasm into action
• Memorializing that, in ICE Pact's first year, the Participants took concrete steps to enable the delivery of the best-in-class icebreaking capabilities, the results of which will be trilaterally beneficial for years to come
• Underscoring the Participants' continued intention to advance the combined industrial capacity and cooperation to build and maintain arctic and polar icebreakers and other capabilities among Participants, allies, and partners while addressing current and emerging strategic challenges, strengthening the shipbuilding industries in each country, and generating economic benefits, including well-paying jobs in shipyards in all 3 countries
• Seeking to expand the trilateral government exchanges that promote efficiency in the development and production of icebreakers and enhance the operational capabilities necessary to operate in the polar regions
• Desiring to facilitate the conditions necessary to promote sustained industrial cooperation among the Participants in the production of icebreakers, and establish world class supply chains that are secure and resilient and reduce critical dependencies on countries of concern
• Conscious of the need to continue to increase trilateral icebreaking capacity as the polar regions become increasingly navigable to shipping and accessible for other commercial activity
• Committed to trilaterally developing the capabilities and platforms needed to secure the polar regions in 2026 and beyond

Have reached the following intentions and understandings:

• The Participants intend to continue to leverage the ICE Pact MOU to advance areas of mutual value and benefit, including cooperative activities aimed at enhancing the industrial capacity and workforce of their respective countries
• The Participants propose to focus the 2026 work of the ICE Pact MOU around the following goals:
  1. advancing efforts to enhance trilateral industrial cooperation
  2. implementing workforce development initiatives
  3. improving international promotion and alignment activities
  4. establishing mechanisms to facilitate cooperation across the value chain
  5. ensuring asymmetric advantages through common research and development initiatives and frameworks
• The Participants acknowledge the momentum generated by ICE Pact and historic opportunities for trilateral industrial collaboration in acquisition frameworks and intend to continue facilitating the easing of restrictions that impede industry from delivering best-in-class icebreaking capabilities
• The Participants understand workforce development is key to both supporting industry in delivering vessels and giving our citizens the tools to succeed in a modern shipbuilding industry; and therefore, the Participants plan to place a special emphasis on trilateral workforce development efforts in 2026
• The Participants each value the opportunity to develop concrete deliverables and propose to build on efforts to enable trilateral pilot programs across all ICE Pact focus areas in 2026
• The Participants intend to continue to leverage their respective ICE Pact National Coordinators ("the National Coordinators") to serve as their primary working-level representatives in achieving the goals stated in this Joint Statement of Intent (JSOI) and in the ICE Pact MOU
• The Participants intend for the National Coordinators to establish a trilateral plan to implement the goals of this JSOI, in accordance with the ICE Pact MOU, and to meet as often as necessary to ensure achievements of the outlined goals
• The Participants plan to consider hosting a Ministerial meeting in November 2026 to review the progress made pursuant to this JSOI and the ICE Pact MOU and determine the future direction of the trilateral effort
• All activities conducted within this JSOI are expected to be carried out consistent with the national laws of the respective Participants, communicated to the public only if mutually determined and in a coordinated fashion, and subject to the availability of appropriated funds, necessary resources, and personnel
• This JSOI is not legally binding and therefore does not give rise to any rights or obligations under international or domestic law and is not eligible for registration under Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations
• This JSOI becomes operative on the date it has been signed in triplicate by all Participants
• Any misunderstanding about the interpretation or application of this JSOI is expected to be clarified by consultations among the Participants and not to be referred to any national or international tribunal or third-party for settlement
• This JSOI may be discontinued by any Participant at any time, but the Participant is expected to give 6 months' written notice. The Participants intend to consult to determine how any outstanding matters should be dealt with
• All information provided or generated pursuant to this JSOI is expected to be safeguarded, used, transmitted, stored, and handled in accordance with the Participants' national laws and regulations