Ukraine has decided to send drone defense experts to Middle Eastern countries currently facing attacks from Iran amid the unfolding conflict involving the US and Israel. This initiative is part of President Volodymyr Zelensky's strategy to use Ukraine's advanced drone technology as leverage to gain military support from allied nations. According to reports, there are currently 201 Ukrainian specialists in the region, with an additional 34 prepared to deploy to assist in countering Iranian Shahed drones. The experts are stationed in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, with plans for further deployment to Kuwait.

During a speech to the UK Parliament, President Zelensky highlighted the capability of Ukraine to produce 2,000 drone interception drones daily, with plans to allocate 1,000 of these to allies while retaining 1,000 for Ukraine's use. This announcement coincides with a new partnership in drone manufacturing established between Ukraine and the UK, aiming to enhance drone supplies by combining Ukraine's technology with the UK's defense industry capabilities. Moreover, Ukraine is seeking to strengthen its ties with Israel regarding drone cooperation, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly requesting a meeting to discuss negotiations on this matter.

Zelensky's efforts to utilize Ukrainian drone technology also include a desired exchange for necessary military supplies, such as Patriot missiles, which are currently scarce. As Ukraine continues to develop various anti-drone tactics and technologies since the onset of the war with Russia in 2022, it has particularly focused on countering Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russia. Zelensky's remarks indicate a strategic balancing act in securing military aid while offering valuable defense technology to allies amidst ongoing global tensions in the region.