Norway Joins the Drone Coalition to Support Ukraine

Norway has officially joined the international Drone Coalition, expanding the number of participating nations to 18 and strengthening financial resources for drone procurement, production, and delivery in support of Ukraine.

According to the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, Minister of Defense Tøre Onshuus Sandvik signed the agreement formalizing Norway’s participation. The signing ceremony was also attended by Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds.

The Drone Coalition, launched on February 14, 2024, is a joint initiative led by Latvia and the United Kingdom as part of broader international efforts to assist Ukraine in its defense. Since its inception, the coalition has secured €1.8 billion in funding, with Latvia contributing €20 million.

Norwegian authorities emphasized the strategic importance of drones in modern warfare and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Norway had previously allocated NOK 700 million toward multinational drone procurement efforts for Ukraine. Additional funding from the country’s long-term support program, “Nansen,” is also expected to be directed toward drone technologies in 2025.

Other nations in the coalition include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Ukraine.

Earlier, UK Deputy Defense Minister Luke Pollard announced that starting in January 2025, Ukraine will receive tens of thousands of drones through the Drone and Maritime Coalitions, led by the UK in cooperation with Norway and Latvia.