Ukraine Expands Gulf Security Deals

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.

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.

Our analysis

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.

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?

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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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