Türkiye and Belgium have expressed their intention to join the international drone coalition supporting Ukraine, Latvia’s Defense Minister Andris Sprūds said on 28 May during a drone coalition summit.

An international alliance, established in February 2024 and led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, brings together over 18 member states to supply Ukraine with drones and related technologies. The Drone Coalition aims to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and support its fight against Russian aggression

“The international Drone Coalition is becoming increasingly stronger – we will be able to deliver more drones to Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening the defence industries of Latvia, the EU, and NATO countries,” Sprūds said.

He said that Türkiye and Belgium, joining the coalition, will enable the alliance “to provide Ukraine with the much-needed support in its fight against the aggressor.”

The drone coalition currently includes 18 member states. With Türkiye and Belgium joining, the coalition will expand to 20 countries. The admission of new members requires approval from existing coalition participants.

Coalition member states have contributed approximately 180 million euros ($204 mn) to a joint procurement fund managed by the United Kingdom, according to Latvia’s Defense Ministry. The fund enables centralized purchases of drone technology alongside individual national support measures from each member country.

Latvia announced it will allocate 20 million euros ($23 mn) for drone purchases in 2025. The country will provide an additional 10 million euros ($11 mn) for cooperation projects between Latvian and Ukrainian industries.

The drone coalition has provided substantial support to Ukraine since its establishment in February 2024. Member states delivered 1.8 billion euros ($2 bn) in assistance during 2024 alone. They plan to allocate 2.75 billion euros ($3 bn) for Ukraine support in 2025.

Over two years, the coalition has committed a total of 4.5 billion euros ($5 bn) to Ukraine, according to the Defense Ministry. 

The coalition was founded on 14 February 2024, and is led by Latvia and the United Kingdom. Current members include Australia, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Ukraine, and the UK.

In March, the drone coalition allocated 20 million euros ($23 mn) to purchase tactical reconnaissance drones for Ukraine. Norway recently agreed to Ukraine’s request to direct a larger portion of its support funds toward Ukrainian drone production.

Turkey and Belgium are set to join the international Drone Coalition supporting Ukraine, Latvia's Defense Minister Andris Spruds announced on May 28 during the Drone Summit in Riga.

The coalition, co-led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, is expected to allocate 2.75 billion euros ($3.1 billion) in 2025 to support Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression.

"The international Drone Coalition is becoming increasingly stronger — we will be able to deliver more drones to Ukraine while simultaneously strengthening the defense industries of Latvia, the EU, and NATO countries," Spruds said. "Our strength lies in unity."

With the addition of Belgium and Turkey, the Drone Coalition will grow to 20 member states. The coalition, officially launched in February 2024, includes countries such as the U.K., Germany, Canada, France, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine, among others. Each new member must be approved by existing coalition states, according to the memorandum of understanding.

Since its inception, the coalition has committed a total of 4.5 billion euros ($5 billion) in aid to Ukraine over two years, including 1.8 billion euros ($2 billion) in 2024 and the planned 2.75 billion euros ($3.1 billion) for 2025.

The Drone Coalition plays crucial role in supporting Ukraine's use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which have become key in targeting Russian military infrastructure, including airfields, oil depots, and logistics hubs deep inside Russian territory.

In March, the coalition allocated 20 million euros ($22.5 million) from a joint fund to procure tactical reconnaissance drones for Ukraine, following an urgent request from Kyiv.

The coalition complements Ukraine's domestic initiatives such as the "Drone Line," launched in February, which aims to accelerate battlefield drone deployment.

Ukrainian drones hit Russian cruise missile factory, SBU source says, in one of largest reported strikes of full-scale war

Dozens of Ukrainian drones were shot down by Russian air defenses as they approached Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed on May 28.

The Kyiv IndependentLucy Pakhnyuk