Ukraine is aiming to sign drone agreements with at least seven NATO member countries by the end of this year, according to a report by The Guardian citing a senior Ukrainian official.
In recent months, Ukraine has already signed drone agreements with six countries, including three from the Middle East—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar—as well as Azerbaijan, Latvia, and Lithuania, both NATO members.
Middle Eastern nations have shown interest in Ukraine's experience in countering drone attacks, particularly following assaults by Iranian-made Shahed drones after the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran this spring.
David Aloyan, deputy secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, stated, "While this initiative is called a drone agreement, it encompasses much more than just drones. More importantly, it provides access to the experience and knowledge accumulated in Ukraine, as well as all elements that make up the relevant systems."
The Guardian also reported that some Middle Eastern countries have used expensive Patriot missiles to intercept Shahed drones. Ukraine has been tasked with evaluating operational and tactical systems necessary for weapon deployment in these nations.
Mike Kaufman, a researcher at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C., noted, "Ukraine can provide an ecosystem of products to organize air defense systems or develop offensive drone capabilities."
However, the export of drones themselves is not yet included in the agreements. Ukraine's defense industry is under strict control, with production prioritized for domestic defense needs. Initially, Ukraine will provide expert assessments and operational reports, while partner countries will decide on future orders based on production capacity.
Ukraine's drone diplomacy is expected to expand primarily among NATO member countries. Latvia signed a drone agreement with Ukraine after a Ukrainian long-range drone, affected by Russian electronic warfare, struck its oil storage facilities in May. Lithuania followed suit with a similar agreement.
Aloyan mentioned that other NATO members have also expressed interest, and some agreements could be finalized during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7-8.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is also pursuing the development of a "European Patriot" system to counter Russian ballistic missiles, aiming to address the high costs and supply shortages associated with U.S. Patriot systems. Discussions are ongoing with European partner countries and major defense contractors.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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