Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed air defence deals with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar during his diplomatic tour of the Gulf region. The agreements aim to leverage Ukraine's expertise in countering Russian drones, which have been attacking Kyiv since 2022. Qatar and Ukraine have signed a defence agreement to share expertise on countering threats from missiles and drones, while Ukraine and the UAE have agreed to cooperate on defence. This cooperation comes as Gulf nations face increasing threats from Iranian drones, which have been attacking their territories.
Ukraine has gained significant expertise in downing Russian drones over the past three and a half years, with a success rate of nearly every day. The country has proposed swapping its interceptors for the more expensive air-defence missiles used by Gulf countries, which are struggling to counter the Iranian threat. Zelenskyy's visit to the Gulf region has resulted in the deployment of 201 anti-drone experts to the Middle East, marking a decade-long cooperation between Ukraine and the region.
The agreements signed by Zelenskyy are expected to provide Ukraine with much-needed funding to fend off near-daily Russian missile attacks. The country's stocks of air-defence missiles are dwindling due to the high cost of the Patriot missiles used by Gulf countries to counter Iranian drones.
The recent air defence deals between Ukraine and Gulf nations underscore the growing concern over Iranian drone attacks in the region. Ukraine's expertise in countering Russian drones has proven to be a valuable asset, and its proposed swap for air-defence missiles could provide a more cost-effective solution for Gulf countries. As the US-Israeli war on Iran continues to escalate, the need for effective defence strategies has become increasingly pressing.
