A senior U.S. official announced that the U.S. will be forming a consortium with Canada and Finland to build icebreakers. This move is intended to boost shipbuilding among allies and to counter Russia and China's increasing influence in strategic polar regions.

The initiative is called the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort (ICE pact) and was unveiled Thursday, on the sidelines a NATO summit that lasted three days in Washington. At the summit, the alliance called on China not to support the war waged by Moscow against Ukraine.

A senior U.S. official said that the agreement aims to create a fleet of icebreaking ships in order to "project" power into polar regions, and to enforce international norms, treaties and conventions. He called it a "strategic necessity."

The official added that the deal was intended to send a strong message to Russia and China.

The official stated that "without this agreement, we risked our adversaries developing a competitive advantage in a technology of great geostrategic significance, which would also allow them the opportunity to become the preferred provider for countries who are also interested in purchasing polar Icebreakers."

U.S. lawmakers have expressed concern about the decline in U.S. shipbuilding over recent years. This is especially true because China has been producing naval vessels at an unprecedented rate.

The construction of U.S. Navy vessels is behind schedule by years.

The official didn't give a timetable for the new icebreakers or say how many vessels were sought under the pact. However, he did note that the U.S. only currently has two icebreakers which are both nearing the end their lives.

The official stated that "we intend to increase the amount by multiples as soon as possible."

Together, the three governments will identify shipyards that are able to meet the demand of partners and allies.

The official stated that "right now, the current production is too small and takes too long. We are not producing the amount of product we need." The official stated that U.S. ally countries want 70-90 icebreakers in the next decade.

China is expanding its research in Antarctica and developing new shipping routes to the Arctic. Western governments are concerned that China's military could improve its operational and surveillance abilities through its polar activities.

Arctic seas, as climate change shrinks the polar ice pack, are being increasingly used to connect major economies in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

China and Russia are working together to develop Arctic shipping lanes as Russia seeks more oil and gas for China, while Moscow faces increased Western sanctions.

China has a fleet of smaller but rapidly growing icebreakers, while Russia operates more than 40. The two countries have signed a partnership with "no limitations" days before Russia invades Ukraine in 2022.

Canada and Finland have combined dozens of icebreakers. (Reporting and editing by Don Durfee, Cynthia Osterman, and Michael Martina)