What's happened
As of April 2026, Ukraine has signed long-term defense cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE to share expertise in countering Iranian drone and missile attacks. Ukrainian President Zelensky has also met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to discuss regional security and food cooperation. Gulf states are diversifying arms suppliers due to unsustainable costs and delays with US defense systems.
What's behind the headline?
Ukraine's Strategic Role in Gulf Security
Ukraine is leveraging its battlefield experience against Russian and Iranian drones to become a key security partner for Gulf states facing sustained Iranian missile and drone attacks. This cooperation is reshaping Gulf defense strategies by introducing cost-effective, field-tested drone countermeasures and electronic warfare expertise.
Diversification of Arms Suppliers
Gulf nations are moving away from exclusive reliance on US defense systems due to high costs, delivery delays, and strategic gaps. They are engaging with Ukraine, the UK, Japan, and South Korea to secure faster and more affordable air defense solutions, signaling a shift toward a more diversified and resilient security infrastructure.
Broader Geopolitical Implications
These agreements serve multiple purposes: enhancing Gulf security, indirectly financing Ukraine's war effort, and signaling NATO-aligned deterrence against Iranian aggression. The deals also reflect Gulf states' frustration with US reliability and a fracturing of the traditional US-Gulf security compact.
Forecast
This cooperation will likely improve Gulf defenses against drone attacks, reduce the strategic value of Iranian strikes, and stabilize the region by making escalation less attractive. However, it will also deepen Ukraine's involvement in Middle Eastern security dynamics and may influence future regional alignments.
What the papers say
The New Arab highlights the scale of Iranian attacks and Gulf states' urgent need to replenish defense stocks, noting Ukraine's deployment of over 200 anti-drone specialists and multi-billion-dollar contracts with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE. Ukrainian President Zelensky has emphasized the similarity between Iranian drones used against Gulf states and those faced by Ukraine, stating, "In terms of expertise, no one today can help the way Ukraine can" (The New Arab).
Reuters and The New Arab report Zelensky's ongoing talks with Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain to expand security cooperation, including technology sharing and joint investment in counter-drone systems.
The Times of Israel reveals Zelensky's strained relations with Israel, noting a lack of communication with Israeli leaders and Israel's refusal to share its Iron Dome system, which Zelensky contrasts with Ukraine's willingness to share expertise. Zelensky also accuses Russia of directly supporting Iran's strikes by sharing intelligence, stating, "I think Russia is supporting Iran directly, 100%" (The Times of Israel).
France 24 discusses the historic nature of the 10-year defense agreements and Ukraine's offer to swap its cheaper drone interceptors for expensive Gulf air-defense missiles. It also notes Ukraine's efforts to secure diesel supplies from Gulf countries to sustain its military and agricultural sectors.
Al Jazeera and The Times of Israel cover Zelensky's visit to Damascus, where he met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss security, food security, and infrastructure cooperation, marking Ukraine's expanding diplomatic engagement in the Middle East.
Together, these sources illustrate Ukraine's growing role as a security partner in the Gulf, the Gulf states' strategic diversification, and the complex geopolitical interplay involving Iran, Russia, and regional powers.
How we got here
Since February 2026, Iran has launched over 850 missiles and 2,600 drones at Gulf targets, forcing Gulf states to use costly US-made interceptors. Ukraine, experienced in countering Russian and Iranian drones, has offered its expertise and technology to Gulf countries, signing multi-year defense agreements and deploying specialists to the region.
Go deeper
- How is Ukraine helping Gulf states counter Iranian drone attacks?
- What are the details of the defense agreements between Ukraine and Gulf countries?
- Why are Gulf states diversifying their arms suppliers beyond the US?
Common question
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Why Is Ukraine Expanding Security Deals in the Middle East?
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How are countries and leaders responding to recent global conflicts and security deals?
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More on these topics
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.
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Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.
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Qatar, officially the State of Qatar, is a country located in Western Asia, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
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The United Arab Emirates, sometimes simply called the Emirates, is a sovereign state in Western Asia at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the south and west, as well as sharing m
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Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in Western Asia constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula.
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Bashar Hafez al-Assad is a Syrian politician who has been the President of Syria since 17 July 2000. In addition, he is commander-in-chief of the Syrian Armed Forces and Regional Secretary of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party's branch in Syria.
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Andrii Ivanovych Sybiha is a Ukrainian statesman, diplomat, and jurist who became the Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine since September 5th 2024.
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Hakan Fidan is a Turkish politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs since June 2023. He was previously the director of the National Intelligence Organization from March 2010 until June 2023.
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Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in Western Asia. Situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, it borders Iraq to the north and Saudi Arabia to the south.