Muhammad Amanullah
September 11, 2026
Canada and Ukraine have established a historic long-term partnership covering defence, security, trade, investment, energy and critical minerals.
The two countries signed a declaration on Thursday establishing a 100-year strategic and political partnership between Canada and Ukraine. The agreement is being described as a major step toward taking bilateral relations to a new level and strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.
The long-term partnership will extend beyond defence and include expanded cooperation in trade, investment, energy and critical minerals. According to both governments, detailed terms and practical plans under the framework will be developed over the coming months.
Defence Cooperation Begins
Alongside the announcement of the 100-year partnership, Canada and Ukraine have launched several agreements and investment initiatives related to the defence industry.
The initial plans include drone production, investment in the defence sector and cooperation between companies from the two countries.
Speaking in Calgary alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the war in Ukraine has entered an important phase.
Carney noted that some Ukrainian unmanned systems are now capable of reaching hundreds of kilometres inside Russia, highlighting the growing importance of drones in modern warfare.
Intensifying Russian Attacks
Carney also referred to the increase in Russian missile and drone attacks against Ukraine.
According to the Canadian prime minister, continued Russian attacks have caused significant damage in Ukraine, with the capital Kyiv facing particularly intense and sustained bombardment.
Carney reaffirmed Canada’s support for Ukraine, saying Canada would continue to stand with the country.
He said Canadians understand the importance of freedom, democracy and sovereignty and view Ukraine’s struggle as a fight based on the same principles.
Goal to Produce Millions of Drones
Canada has decided to expand the role of drones in its own defence capabilities while drawing lessons from Ukraine’s experience on the battlefield.
Carney said Canada plans to establish a new drone marketplace through which individual military units will be able to work directly with companies to obtain drones and other unmanned systems according to their operational requirements.
According to Carney, the initiative is an important part of the government’s broader strategy to increase Canada’s defence production capacity.
The government aims to develop the industrial capacity to produce millions of drones over the next two years.
Canadian Military Has Only 2,000 Drones
The decision to significantly increase drone production is particularly important because the Canadian Armed Forces currently have only around 2,000 drones of various types.
The Canadian government says the changing requirements of modern warfare mean that the armed forces need access to a much larger number of unmanned systems.
The war in Ukraine has demonstrated the increasingly important role of drones in surveillance, intelligence, reconnaissance and other military operations.
Contracts Worth Up to $50 Million
Canada has announced agreements for the immediate purchase of drones and expansion of its defence capabilities, with the combined value of the contracts potentially reaching C$50 million.
The purchases are expected to increase the number of drones available to the Canadian Armed Forces by as much as ten times.
The initial phase includes drones designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, along with unmanned ground vehicles.
These systems could eventually strengthen the Canadian military’s surveillance and defence capabilities.
Six Canadian Companies Involved
Six companies operating in New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan are participating in the initial defence initiative.
The government’s decision to involve Canadian companies in defence production is intended not only to meet military requirements but also to strengthen the country’s domestic defence industrial base.
Canada and Ukraine also plan to develop drones jointly through partnerships between companies from both countries.
The cooperation could give Canadian companies an opportunity to benefit from the experience and expertise of Ukraine’s defence industry.
Learning From Ukraine’s Battlefield Experience
Carney said Canadian and Ukrainian companies would have opportunities to work together, allowing Canada’s defence industry to benefit from Ukraine’s extensive battlefield experience.
Ukrainian defence companies are operating in an environment shaped by modern warfare, and partnerships with them could give Canadian companies access to technologies and methods that have been tested in real-world combat conditions.
The cooperation is therefore expected to go beyond the production of equipment and could include the exchange of knowledge and defence technology.
Broader 100-Year Partnership
The 100-year partnership between Canada and Ukraine will extend beyond defence cooperation to economic and natural-resource sectors.
Alongside efforts to expand trade and investment, the two countries plan to increase cooperation in energy and critical minerals.
The new framework comes as Ukraine continues to face sustained military pressure in its war against Russia.
Canada’s decision to establish a long-term partnership and invest in the defence industry signals that Ottawa wants to transform its relationship with Ukraine from temporary support into a partnership extending across decades.
Joint drone production, defence-industry investment and the exchange of modern military technologies are expected to form an early focus of the cooperation.
Further practical plans and details of the 100-year partnership are expected to be finalized by Canada and Ukraine over the coming months.
