Key facts
- Ukraine signed new drone cooperation agreements with Estonia, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
- These agreements aim to deepen defense industry ties and share expertise.
- The deals were signed on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.
- Ukraine's defense industry has become competitive due to its experience in the war with Russia.
- The agreements allow for joint production and export of defense products.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on July 7 that Ukraine had signed three additional drone cooperation agreements with Denmark, Estonia, and the Netherlands, bringing the total number of such accords to nine. These deals were finalized on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. The agreements are intended to foster greater opportunities for joint defense production, the exchange of expertise, and transparency in weapons exports. Zelenskyy highlighted Denmark's role as the first country to offer joint production in Ukraine, granting them access to Ukrainian-tested weapons exports. The agreements underscore Ukraine's rapidly developing drone industry, cultivated over more than four years of conflict with Russia. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stated that Ukraine has developed one of the most competitive defense industries in the world through its experience fighting Russia's invasion, arguing that closer cooperation will benefit both Estonia's defense capability and Ukraine. The agreements allow for joint ventures to begin production in Estonia and Ukraine, with Kyiv providing necessary export approvals for selected technologies. European countries are increasingly seeking closer defense-industrial cooperation with Ukraine, particularly in areas such as drones and electronic warfare, where Ukrainian companies have gained extensive experience.