Ukraine, Denmark Partner to Boost Arms Production
A new agreement will see Ukrainian defense technology exported to Denmark for weapon production, with the resulting arms used by the Ukrainian military, marking a notable instance of international cooperation.
Defense Cooperation Deal Forged
The agreement, hailed as a “unique case of international cooperation for the Ukrainian defense industry,”
was announced by Ukrainian Minister for Strategic Industry Herman Smetanin after its signing in Copenhagen with Danish Industry Minister Morten Bodskov.
Denmark’s Support for Ukraine
Denmark has been a strong supporter of Ukraine since the war’s onset. A ten-year bilateral agreement, signed in February 2024, pledged defense cooperation until Ukraine joins NATO. Denmark was also the first nation to support Ukrainian weapons manufacturers a year ago.
Relocating Production
According to military expert Johan Huovinen, Russian forces have heavily targeted Ukraine’s domestic defense industry, bombing factories and underground facilities. Consequently, much of the industry has moved westward, closer to safer territory. As of November 2023, the World Bank estimated the cost of recovery and reconstruction in Ukraine to be $411 billion. (World Bank)
Simplifying Production
Hans Liwång, a professor at the Swedish Defense College, believes that moving select components could streamline production amid the ongoing conflict and that the agreement with Denmark could increase the output of existing systems.
Liwång suggests Ukraine may seek to relocate both the mass production of traditional weapons and the more innovative development of drone and air defense solutions.
Johan Huovinen notes Denmark could also benefit from the arrangement.
He said that Denmark might “take advantage of the Ukrainian competence that exists, including when it comes to sea mines or different sensor systems used at sea, which the Ukrainians have been prominent in… Even in the case of different drone systems that have been developed.”
Experts suggest the collaboration will likely involve Ukrainian staff moving to Denmark to share their expertise.
Broader Internationalization Efforts
The agreement aligns with Ukraine’s broader strategy to internationalize its weapons production. In late June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyj anticipated that Ukraine would soon export its defense technology and produce weapons in allied countries, a move experts deem likely in the near future.
Defense Minister Pål Jonson stated that while he couldn’t detail ongoing discussions with Ukraine, many ideas for further cooperation are being explored, adding that “similar arrangements… are clearly interesting for Sweden.”
Impact of Diminished U.S. Support
Johan Huovinen suggests the agreement likely arose from reduced American support, highlighting the increasing importance of European aid to Ukraine, adding that “it also indicates that Ukraine thinks that the war is very likely to continue the year out, and even next year.”
Hans Liwång emphasizes the broader implications of defense cooperation for Ukraine’s national standing.
He stated that “it is mainly talked about that it is the West that provides Ukraine with weapons, but this is clear proof that the industrial power that exists in Ukraine also plays a role. This makes you strengthen your position.”
