Canada and Ukraine solidified their partnership on Thursday by signing a long-term strategic and political agreement to collaborate on the production of millions of drones for mutual defense. The declaration, establishing a 100-year partnership, encompasses defense, security, trade, investment, energy, and critical minerals.
During a joint appearance in Calgary, Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict. He highlighted Ukraine’s progress in deploying unmanned systems deep into Russia and expressed concern over the impact of Russia’s intensified missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, particularly Kyiv.
In a move inspired by Ukraine’s experiences, Canada revealed plans to establish a domestic drone marketplace to facilitate quick procurement by military units. Carney outlined a strategic goal to ramp up drone production capacity significantly within the next two years, with Canada currently possessing only 2,000 drones of various types.
The collaborative efforts between Canadian and Ukrainian companies will focus on developing drones, counter-drone technologies, munitions, and artificial intelligence. Carney underscored the value of learning from battle-tested developers to enhance Canada’s industrial capabilities.
Moreover, Canada pledged financial support to Ukraine through contributions to the Ukraine Energy Security Fund for infrastructure repair, increased energy storage, and healthcare facility power supply. To assist Ukrainians during the winter, Canada offered over $430 million in gas purchase loan guarantees and allocated $350 million towards an air defense package, addressing the repercussions of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran on Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.
