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Türkiye and Belgium have applied to join the international drone coalition supporting Ukraine, Latvia's Defense Minister Andris Spruds announced at the Drone Summit 2025 held in Riga on May 28.
"We are 20 members. 18 plus two members joining. Türkiye and Belgium have applied. The papers are being reviewed but I look forward to both joining," Spruds said during the summit.
The Drone Coalition is co-led by Latvia and the United Kingdom, with current members including Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine.
Coalition member states have committed to allocating €2.75 billion in 2025 to support Ukraine, according to the Latvian Ministry of Defence's statement. Combined with €1.8 billion provided in 2024, total support over two years will reach €4.5 billion.
"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," Sprūds emphasized. "Our strength lies in unity."
At least 100,000 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been supplied to Ukraine through the coalition since its establishment on Feb. 14, 2024, Sprūds reported. The deliveries include not only small one-way attack UAVs but also higher-end systems and tactical-level multirotor intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance UAVs.
Coalition member states have collectively contributed approximately €180 million to a U.K.-led joint Drone Coalition procurement fund. The fund enables centralized drone technology procurement alongside each member state's national support measures.
Three main tenders have focused on delivering first-person view (FPV) one-way attack UAVs, advanced FPV and interceptor UAVs, and tactical-level multirotor intelligence systems for Ukrainian forces.
Latvia plans to allocate €20 million for drone purchases this year, with an additional €10 million earmarked for cooperation projects between Latvian and Ukrainian defense industries. In 2024, Latvia delivered nearly 5,000 combat drones of various capacities to Ukraine.
Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler held talks with his Latvian counterpart Andris Spruds in Brussels during the NATO Defense Ministers Meeting. The bilateral contacts took place as Guler participated in the NATO gathering in the Belgian capital.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov discussed strengthening the drone coalition's work with Latvia's Defense Minister Spruds during the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Ramstein format.
"We focused on strengthening the work of the Drone Coalition, where Latvia is one of the leading countries. Agreed on the next steps to enhance its effectiveness," Umerov reported on Facebook.
According to the drone coalition's memorandum of understanding, admission of new countries must be agreed upon by existing coalition member states. With Belgium and Türkiye's potential membership, the coalition would encompass 20 countries dedicated to supporting Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that his country wants peace and has sent all of its teams to the negotiations (held in Istanbul), but that the Russian side is not on the same page.
Umerov made statements to the press before the Ukraine Contact Group Meeting held at NATO headquarters in Brussels with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“The Ukraine Contact Group is an important symbol for Ukraine. It is a symbol of unity and a symbol of assistance,” said Umerov, expressing his gratitude to NATO countries for their economic, political, and diplomatic support.
Umerov said, "Ukraine wants peace. We have supported US President Donald Trump's initiative since February. Ukraine is constantly sending teams for negotiations, but we see that the ultimatums are continuing."
The Ukrainian minister emphasized that he wanted to leave Thursday's meeting with positive results.
NATO Secretary-General Rutte said, "You can be sure that NATO allies are with you in continuing to support Ukraine through our headquarters in Wiesbaden (Germany)."
Rutte expressed his appreciation for President Trump's efforts to achieve lasting peace and said to Umerov, "I am very happy that you are here, personally and with your senior colleagues, to bring this conflict to a lasting end."
The secretary-general emphasized that they will continue to work to ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not dare to attack Ukraine again.
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