Ukraine Joins NATO Procurement Partnership

Ukraine has joined a NATO procurement partnership that gives its government access to contracts managed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency and allows Ukrainian defense companies to compete for agency tenders. The agency announced the move on October 22, establishing a new route for government purchases and industry contracts without identifying an initial order or equipment list. The Security Cooperation Support Partnership allows Kyiv to use existing NSPA contracts or request new tenders, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said. The ministry also said purchases could be funded by Ukraine, international partners or joint financing. The arrangement may draw on 45 NSPA partnerships covering weapons-system procurement and support, according to the ministry. Ukrainian manufacturers can register in the agency’s supplier database, submit proposals and compete for contracts. The ministry said the supplier mechanism runs for five years from April 2025. The agreement gives Ukraine access to the agency’s procurement work even though Ukraine is not a NATO member. About 150 Ukrainian defense-industry companies attended an NSPA event in Kyiv on October 14, according to the agency and the...