Ukraine’s Zelensky signs defense agreements with Gulf nations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday that the agreements he had signed with Gulf countries during a tour of the region involved a “ten-year cooperation” in defense, as well as the establishment of joint production chains. “We are talking about a ten-year cooperation. We have already signed an agreement to this effect with Saudi Arabia, we have just signed a similar agreement with Qatar for 10 years, and we will sign one with the Emirates,” Zelensky told journalists, including AFP, at a press briefing.
“Over the next ten years, we have committed to building factories in both countries, with production chains in Ukraine and in those countries,” specified the Ukrainian president. The Gulf countries are clearly banking on the expertise of Ukrainians in drones acquired in the conflict against the Russians. In this war, they have demonstrated their agility and ingenuity in finding solutions against Russian attacks. These sales of Ukrainian drones may undercut offers from European industrialists.
Kiev offers Riyadh an air defense system
Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have signed a cooperation agreement that will allow Kiev to share its experience in countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones during the visit of Volodymyr Zelensky, a senior official familiar with the matter told AFP on Friday. “The objective of the agreement is for Ukraine to help them develop all the necessary components of the air defense they currently lack to ‘counter the Shaheds and other drones’,” he explained. The document was signed on Thursday, according to AFP.
During a surprise visit to Jeddah on Thursday, the Ukrainian president indicated that Kiev was “ready to share its expertise and system with Saudi Arabia,” he said. Riyadh “has what interests Ukraine,” he added without giving details. Since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022, “Ukrainians have been defending against the massive terrorist strikes, ballistic missiles, and drones that the Iranian regime is inflicting today on the Middle East and the Gulf region,” Zelensky argued. Saudi Arabia is one of the Gulf countries where Kiev has recently sent military experts to share their experience in intercepting Shahed drones, designed by Iran and now mass-produced by Moscow to attack Ukraine.
UAE and Qatar show great interest
Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to cooperate on defense amid Iranian drone attacks across the Middle East, Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday before heading to neighboring Qatar. This surprise visit to the UAE comes after the announcement of a defense agreement between Ukraine and Saudi Arabia, while Gulf countries face Iranian drones and missiles launched by Tehran in retaliation for American-Israeli strikes against Iran, ongoing since February 28.
Kiev is thus seeking to leverage its expertise in destroying Russian drones to assist Gulf countries and has deployed anti-drone experts in the region, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. After his visit to the UAE, Volodymyr Zelensky announced on social media that he had “arrived in Qatar. Real security is built on partnership: we appreciate each other and remain open to supporting all those willing to work together towards this goal.” Qatar and Ukraine have also signed a defense agreement including cooperation to combat threats related to missiles and drones, the Gulf state’s Ministry of Defense stated.
“The agreement entails collaboration in technological areas, joint investment development, and exchange of expertise in countering missiles and unmanned aerial systems,” the ministry said in a statement regarding the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to Qatar.
A willingness to share expertise
In Riyadh, Volodymyr Zelensky met with Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, announcing on social media that the two leaders “have agreed to cooperate in the field of security and defense. Our teams will finalize the details.” “For all normal states, it is important to ensure stability and protect lives from current threats. Ukraine has relevant expertise in this field,” he specified. Ukraine presents its anti-drone defenses as the best in the world.
In the UAE, Volodymyr Zelensky also met with Ukrainian anti-drone experts, who “work here to help protect lives.” “Today, Ukraine not only needs help but is also ready to support those who support us,” he assured. Kiev has offered to exchange its drone interceptors for much more expensive anti-aircraft defense missiles that Gulf countries use to shoot down Iranian drones. Ukrainians claim they need more of these missiles to counter the almost daily missile strikes from Russia, which has been attacking Ukraine since the beginning of 2022.
