Ukraine Makes History as First Non-Member to Join the Joint Expeditionary Force Framework
Ukraine has become the first country to receive “Enhanced Partnership” status with the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), marking a new stage in military cooperation with Northern Europe and the United Kingdom.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to a statement made by Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal on Facebook.
The Memorandum on granting Ukraine new status was signed by the defense ministers of JEF member countries during a meeting in Norway.
This is a historic event, as it is the first time that a country that is not a formal member has joined the coalition created by the United Kingdom in 2015. The JEF comprises nine Northern European countries: Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway.
“Ukraine is capable of strengthening the JEF. We will share our knowledge in the areas of countering hybrid aggression, the use of air defense forces, the use of drones, the protection of national infrastructure, and the conduct of long-range strikes,” Shmyhal wrote.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine also plan to participate in joint exercises to achieve full interoperability with their partners.
Ukraine emphasizes its readiness to contribute to the common security of Europe through innovative partnerships and cooperation in the defense industry, while counting on access to European technologies and production capacities.
The enhanced partnership between the JEF and Ukraine is expected to include training for the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as cooperation on the protection of critical underwater infrastructure, drones, combat medicine, and methods of countering disinformation.
Not least, this cooperation is aimed at strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities.
“Our new enhanced partnership with Ukraine will enable JEF nations to step up with further support to put Ukrainians in the best possible position in defending their freedom,” said Defense Secretary John Healey MP.
The Joint Expeditionary Force is a flexible defense initiative created by the United Kingdom in 2015 with the participation of nine Northern European countries. The format does not provide for a permanent army, but allows the UK and at least one other member country (“1 + 1”) to quickly combine forces for specific missions.
Participation in the JEF provides countries with the opportunity to strengthen defense cooperation with the UK — a leading NATO power and nuclear force. Membership provides access to British military expertise, joint training, and high-level political dialogue, promotes operational interoperability with partners, and enables rapid response to hybrid or crisis threats in the Northern European region.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Ukraine and the United Kingdom plan to start joint production of interceptor drones to improve the fight against Russian Shahed drones.