Ukraine has received enhanced partner status within the Joint Expeditionary Force, JEF, becoming the first nation outside the coalition to gain this designation, Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on Wednesday. He noted that, thanks to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s initiative, Ukraine took part in a JEF defense ministers’ meeting for the first time, marking a historic milestone.
Shmyhal stated that Ukraine is prepared to strengthen the coalition by sharing its frontline experience, including expertise in countering hybrid threats, improving air defense, using drones, protecting critical infrastructure, and carrying out long-range strikes. He added that these efforts contribute to Europe’s security and help safeguard peace for future generations.
The new enhanced partner status allows Ukraine to join joint exercises, share intelligence, coordinate operations, and engage in regional defense planning - deepening its integration into Europe’s collective security framework. The JEF, led by the United Kingdom, includes ten Northern European nations: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. The coalition focuses on rapid crisis response in strategic regions such as the Baltic and North Seas, the Arctic, and the North Atlantic. Operating independently of NATO, it complements the alliance through flexible, high-readiness operations and coordinated regional defense initiatives. Shmyhal attended the JEF Defense Ministers’ meeting for the first time at the invitation of Norway and the United Kingdom.
