Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed defense cooperation agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar during his Gulf tour, aiming to exchange expertise on countering missile and drone threats. These deals are part of Ukraine's effort to leverage its experience against Russian drones in return for financial aid for its conflict with Russia.
Key points
- Agreements focus on collaboration in technological fields, joint investments, and exchanging expertise against missiles and unmanned aerial systems.
- Zelenskyy also visited Saudi Arabia, signing a defense cooperation agreement there on Thursday.
- Ukraine has deployed 201 anti-drone experts to the Middle East to assist Gulf nations.
- The Gulf nations are seeking cheaper defense solutions compared to expensive systems like Patriot missiles ($4m each), as Ukraine offers expertise for about $2,000 per drone downing.
- The increased regional tensions stem from Iranian attacks targeting US assets in the Middle East, which Gulf nations claim put civilians at risk.
Why it matters
These agreements link Ukraine's battlefield experience in drone defense to financial and energy security interests of Gulf states amid escalating regional conflict involving Iran.
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