Norway announced Tuesday it will expand military cooperation with Ukraine through a new partnership that includes manufacturing Ukrainian unmanned aircraft within Norwegian borders.
The defense agreement establishes a two-way collaboration where Norway will assist with drone manufacturing operations in Ukraine, while Ukraine will provide Norway with tactical data, intelligence and battlefield expertise gained from its ongoing conflict with Russia.
During a joint news conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere emphasized the value of Ukraine’s combat experience.
“We can learn from the experiences that Ukraine is making in this hard-won fight against the Russian aggression,” Stoere stated. “It is crucial that we learn from these experiences.”
The Nordic nation has emerged as one of Ukraine’s strongest allies, joining other Scandinavian and Baltic states in providing substantial support since Russia’s invasion began.
Norway’s parliament has approved a comprehensive aid package worth approximately $28 billion spanning from 2023 through 2030, positioning the country among Ukraine’s most generous supporters when measured per capita.
The announcement came as Zelenskiy concluded meetings in Berlin with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, where they finalized similar drone production agreements that the Ukrainian leader described as potentially becoming among Europe’s largest defense manufacturing partnerships.
