Ukraine is actively pursuing a collaborative defense initiative with the Philippines, focusing on the co-production of uncrewed platforms. This potential partnership is expected to take shape during a forthcoming visit by a Ukrainian defense delegation to the Southeast Asian nation in October. Ukrainian Ambassador to the Philippines Yuliia Fediv has indicated that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) could be finalized during this visit.
Currently, a draft version of the MoU has already been submitted to the Philippine Department of National Defense, fostering a conducive environment for negotiations. Fediv emphasized the necessity of establishing a formal defense agreement between Ukraine and the Philippines to lay down a legal framework for cooperation. “We are open for cooperation, but I think the first step needed is to sign the agreement on defense between Ukraine and the Philippine government to create this legal framework,” she remarked, highlighting the importance of receiving a formal response from the Philippine authorities to advance the initiative.
Drones have emerged as significant assets in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, utilized by both sides for various tactical advantages. Ukraine, drawing from its experiences on the battlefield, has proposed a plan to share its knowledge and capabilities with allied nations. Among the technologies under consideration are unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles, which have proven instrumental in Ukraine’s efforts against the larger Russian Navy.
The potential systems developed through this collaboration could play a crucial role in patrolling the West Philippine Sea, which lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Fediv added that cybersecurity cooperation is also likely to be a focal point of the discussions during the upcoming delegation’s visit, underlining the multifaceted nature of the proposed partnership.
“The Philippines, as I mentioned several times… You are our reliable partner in the region. That’s why we are open to share with you all the lessons [we] learned [from our situation],” the ambassador stated, reinforcing the commitment to building strategic ties between the two nations in the defense domain.
