Norway will lead defence materiel cooperation in Ukraine
News story | Date: 28/08/2023 | Ministry of Defence
Norway entered into an agreement with Ukraine to support the development of a Ukrainian defence material organisation in March 2023. Norway will now also lead the work at a strategic level in NATO, which coordinates the efforts to develop the defence material work between allied nations and Ukraine. The sector will be developed in the direction of western standards and working methods.
NATO has implemented a review of what the alliance can contribute within defence procurement in Ukraine. The review will be completed during the year and it will formulate concrete measures financed by one of NATO's support funds. The work Norway will coordinate within NATO, and the bilateral initiative Norway has implemented with the Ukrainian defence material organization will be coordinated.
The agreement Norway entered into with Ukraine in March has proved interesting also for others, and now Great Britain and Sweden have joined this work.
- There have been major challenges with corruption within defence procurement in Ukraine. Ever since NATO asked Norway for help in 2014, we have supported Ukraine by building integrity into laws, rules and procedures for good defence procurement, says Minister of Defence Bjørn Arild Gram.