Icebreakers: between maritime navigational safety and geopolitical impact

Abstract

The Iran-Contra affair has once again highlighted the importance and fragility of the strategic straits or waterways through which much of the economic exchange that sustains the current economic model flows. It is here that Arctic routes begin to play a crucial role in shaping the new global balance of power, which will undoubtedly lay the foundation for a new international order. Icebreakers play a significant role in this new balance by securing trade routes in a region where icebergs pose a significant risk in both polar and subpolar areas. This opens the possibility for Arctic states with larger icebreaker fleets to exert greater control over these new routes. This article analyzes the icebreaker manufacturing capabilities of Arctic states and the potential impact on the future of trade routes and their security, with a particular focus on Russia, Canada, and the United States.

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