Canada and Ukraine strengthened their ties on Thursday by signing a long-term strategic and political partnership agreement. This partnership aims to facilitate the production of millions of drones for defense purposes in both countries. The declaration signed by the two nations outlines a 100-year partnership covering defense, security, trade, investment, energy, and critical minerals, with detailed implementation plans to be finalized in the upcoming months.
The collaboration between Canada and Ukraine commenced with several contracts related to drone manufacturing and defense industry investments. Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted the evolving situation in Ukraine, emphasizing the impact of unmanned systems penetrating deep into Russian territory. He expressed solidarity with Ukraine and acknowledged the challenges posed by Russia’s intensified missile and drone attacks, particularly on Kyiv.
Carney underscored Canada’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s cause for freedom, democracy, and sovereignty. Drawing inspiration from Ukraine’s wartime experience, Canada intends to establish its drone marketplace to streamline procurement processes for military units. The goal is to ramp up drone production significantly within the next two years, as currently, the Canadian military possesses only 2,000 drones across various types.
To bolster defense capabilities, Canada has awarded contracts worth up to $50 million to expand its drone fleet by tenfold. These contracts involve procuring intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance drones, as well as uncrewed ground vehicles from companies in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Additionally, both governments plan to collaborate with Canadian and Ukrainian companies to manufacture drones, enabling the Canadian industry to benefit from battle-tested technology developers.
Furthermore, General Dynamics Mission Systems-Canada and Green Tech Harvest from Ukraine will partner to develop drones and related technologies. The two nations are also committed to jointly producing uncrewed systems, counter-drone technologies, munitions, and artificial intelligence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the partnership, emphasizing its significance for Ukrainians’ lives and sovereignty.
Zelenskyy revealed Canada’s readiness to join the FREYA project, a European anti-ballistic missile defense initiative led by the Ukrainian company Fire Point. Despite challenges in keeping pace with Ukraine’s drone technology advancements, Canadian military officials are strategizing to adapt swiftly to evolving tactics and technological developments in the drone warfare landscape.
Canada announced substantial investments to enhance Ukraine’s defense and security, including funding for critical air defense interceptors and energy security measures. Moreover, financial support will be extended for Ukrainian veterans’ rehabilitation programs and their families. The collaborative efforts between Canada and Ukraine are poised to reinforce both countries’ defense capabilities and foster long-term security.