The analytical report “Deepening NB8-Ukraine Defence-Industrial Cooperation: A Strategic Win-Win for European Security” proposes a fundamentally new way of thinking about defence-industrial cooperation between Ukraine and the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8).
The authors argue that the real challenge lies in how quickly NB8 countries can adapt their armed forces to the realities of modern warfare, and propose deepening defence-industrial cooperation with Ukraine as a solution grounded in mutual strategic interest.
The report calls for a rethinking of the predominantly transactional approach to supporting Ukraine, which has focused on deliveries and ad hoc co-production.
Instead, it points to:
— the development of joint production consortia and industrial investments on mutually beneficial terms;
— structured joint capability development as the next level of integration.
Such a synergy — combining Ukraine’s unique battlefield expertise and highly adaptive innovation ecosystem with the high-tech industrial capacity of the NB8 — can rapidly close critical capability gaps for both the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO’s north-eastern flank.
The report also highlights concrete areas of cooperation, where industrial strengths align with operational needs, including:
— Danish maritime technologies combined with Ukraine’s experience in maritime drone warfare;
— Estonian robotics paired with Ukrainian deployment data;
— Finnish communications systems tested in Ukraine’s electronic warfare environment;
— Swedish precision weapons enhanced through Ukrainian operational experience.
In addition, the authors identify five key priorities for multilateral cooperation:
— building integrated air and missile defence against mass attacks;
— integrating Ukraine into the EU’s drone wall initiative;
— developing joint deep-strike capabilities;
— advancing next-generation maritime systems;
— scaling autonomous platforms for land warfare.
In conclusion, the report outlines concrete steps for both sides to develop systematic defence-industrial cooperation. Such integration has the potential not only to strengthen Ukraine and the NB8 countries, but also to act as a catalyst for reinforcing Europe’s north-eastern flank, creating a scalable model for broader coordination within NATO and the EU.
The analytical report was prepared in partnership between the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies (SCEEUS) and Ukrainian experts:
Klara Lindström (analyst at SCEEUS),
Stanislav Boiko (Associate Senior Fellow at Sahaidachnyi Security Center),
Vladyslav Panov (Junior Analyst, Ukraine’s MoD Reform Support Office).