Norway, Ukraine Expand Drone Cooperation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the signing of the Joint Declaration on Enhanced Defense and Security Cooperation in Oslo, Norway on Tuesday | Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Norway and Ukraine have agreed to expand defence cooperation with a focus on drone production, including enabling Ukrainian drones to be produced in Norway. The agreement forms part of a broader effort to strengthen industrial collaboration and increase defence production capacity.

The decision was confirmed during a meeting in Oslo between Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and President Volodymyr Zelensky, where both leaders signed a joint declaration on enhanced defence and security cooperation. The agreement outlines steps toward joint production, co-development, and technology exchange, particularly in unmanned systems.

The declaration identifies drones, air defence, electronic warfare, maritime security, and logistics as priority areas. It also includes provisions to scale up production capacity and support Ukraine’s drone industry, while allowing for the establishment of Ukrainian drone production facilities in Norway.

“Enhancing military cooperation benefits both our countries. We are supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom and at the same time integrating Ukrainian experiences on the front line into the development of our own defence. Technology is evolving rapidly in Ukraine, and the Ukrainians are teaching us a lot about modern warfare,” said Prime Minister Støre.

The agreement builds on earlier discussions between the two countries on forming a long-term strategic partnership. During a visit to Ukraine earlier this year, both leaders agreed to expand cooperation across defence and security sectors, with further discussions held in Oslo to define specific measures.

“Defence cooperation is to be a mainstay of our strategic partnership, and today we agreed on how to define the ways in which we can share experience and strengthen our joint security in more concrete terms. We will also develop our partnership in other areas, such as energy and emergency preparedness,” said Mr Støre.

Under the joint declaration, Norway will support drone production in Ukraine, while Ukraine will provide operational knowledge and data from battlefield experience. The cooperation also includes plans to involve additional partners to increase the production of air defence missiles and develop integrated air and missile defence systems.

“We will be giving close consideration to how Ukrainian technology and the Ukrainian drone industry can help to strengthen Norway’s defence capability in the long term, and the establishment of Ukrainian drone production in Norway is also essential. We will also be working together to boost production of anti-aircraft systems and ammunition,” said Prime Minister Støre.

Training and knowledge exchange are also part of the agreement. Norwegian forces are currently training Ukrainian personnel, and Ukrainian instructors are expected to deploy to Norway.

“We have much to learn from the Ukrainian experience. Currently, Norwegian forces are helping to train Ukrainian soldiers. Now we have agreed that Ukrainian instructors will come to Norway to share their insights with the Norwegian Armed Forces,” said Mr Støre.

The agreement also seeks closer cooperation between defence industries in both countries.

“In order to safeguard our common security, it is important for the defence industry to develop new technologies and increase production. We have agreed to make it easier for the Norwegian and Ukrainian defence industries to collaborate more closely,” said Mr Støre.

A day earlier, the Norwegian government announced it had submitted a proposition to parliament requesting its consent to ratify the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine. “The Government is also proposing that Norway participates as a member of the Management Committee that will govern the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine,” added a statement from the Norwegian government.