WASHINGTON, July 11,
2024 /CNW/ - "As leaders of Arctic nations,
Canada, Finland, and the
United States, recognizing the enduring importance of the
region to our collective economic, climate, and national security,
we resolve to deepen our cooperation to ensure the polar and Arctic
regions remain peaceful, cooperative, and prosperous. As part of
this effort, we are announcing an enhanced trilateral partnership
called the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort or ICE Pact.
"Through ICE Pact, our governments will build on our
longstanding and ongoing bilateral ties. As the first initiative
under ICE Pact, we will commit to a collaborative effort to
continue building best-in-class Arctic and polar icebreakers and
other Arctic and polar capabilities in each of our respective
countries by sharing expertise, information, and capabilities. Over
the next six months, we also will jointly develop an implementation
plan for this collaboration to build these highly complex and
critical vessels for our allies and partners with interests and
responsibilities in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
"This partnership will strengthen the shipbuilding industries in
each nation with the goal of creating good-paying jobs in
shipyards, marine equipment manufacturers, and many other related
services across all three countries. In the Arctic, new, faster
shipping lanes hold the potential to create new economic
opportunities and drive down shipping costs. And in the Antarctic,
our partnership can also foster increased scientific research and
international collaboration.
"This partnership is about more than the collective production
of polar icebreakers and capabilities, including Arctic and
polar-capable ships. It is about providing the capability for
like-minded nations to uphold international rules, norms, and
standards to sustain peace and stability in the Arctic and
Antarctic regions for generations to come."
This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca
SOURCE Prime Minister's Office