Belgium and Turkey Join Drone Coalition to Boost Ukraine’s Defense
Belgium and Turkey have formally become the newest members of the international drone coalition, a strategic initiative aimed at reinforcing Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities through modern unmanned aerial systems.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to the Latvian Ministry of Defense, which co-leads the coalition with the United Kingdom.
Latvia’s Defense Minister Andris Sprūds hailed the expansion as a signal of growing international resolve.
“The international drone coalition continues to grow, and this sends a clear message that support for Ukraine is not only being maintained but is becoming stronger and more resilient,” Sprūds said.
With Belgium and Turkey on board, the coalition now counts 20 participating nations, including Ukraine, the UK, Australia, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Canada, Germany, Sweden, and others.
Together, coalition members have pledged approximately €2.75 billion in defense assistance to Ukraine in 2025.
Of that total, over €180 million has already been contributed to the joint drone procurement fund managed by the UK.
These funds will be used for centralized purchases of cutting-edge UAV technology, as well as for national-level support projects by coalition members.
Latvia, one of the coalition's founding nations, has committed €20 million this year for drone purchases and an additional €10 million to support joint industrial initiatives with Ukraine.
In addition, Latvian manufacturers plan to produce up to 12,000 unmanned aerial systems by mid-2025.
As The Gaze reported earlier, on April 12, Norway officially joined the Drone Coalition.