Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans, during a visit to Ukraine on Sunday, announced a €400 million ($440 million) investment in advanced drone development in partnership with Ukraine.
He also promised the delivery of additional F-16 fighter jets in the coming months to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses in its ongoing war with Russia, particularly on the eastern front.
Speaking in Kyiv, Brekelmans expressed the importance of continuous military support for Ukraine, noting the war’s increasing intensity. “The war is intensifying every day, and Ukraine is setting up more brigades that all need support and military equipment. We need to ensure this continuous flow of support,” he told Reuters.
In addition to supplying resources, the Netherlands aims to use its expertise in drone technology to improve Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities. “We will focus on different types of drones: surveillance drones, defensive drones, and attack drones. Ukraine needs more offensive drones to target military facilities,” Brekelmans explained.
This investment is part of a broader effort by the Dutch government to scale up its involvement in military arms development. While a portion of the investment will be spent in the Netherlands, the rest will be divided between Ukraine and other allied nations. If the drones prove successful, additional funding will be allocated to expand production, according to Brekelmans.
Since the start of Russia’s invasion, the Netherlands has pledged €10 billion in military support for Ukraine and has already spent approximately €4 billion.
