The UK plans to deploy experts from Ukraine to assist Gulf states in countering Iranian drone attacks. This was announced by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a video address released on Sunday evening.
According to Starmer, London is not joining the US and Israel’s offensive strikes against Iran, but will continue to provide defensive support to its allies in the region. Specifically, the British government has agreed to make its military bases available to the Americans for limited strikes against Iranian missile launchers and depots.
“We are not participating in these strikes, but we will continue defensive actions in the region. We will also bring in experts from Ukraine, along with our own specialists, to help our Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones that attack them,” the prime minister emphasized.
Ukrainian specialists have unique experience intercepting Iranian Shahed drones, which Russia has been using en masse in the war against Ukraine (more than 57,000 such UAVs have been launched since 2022). The British government considers this practical experience key to enhancing the effectiveness of Gulf air defenses amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Experts believe that the involvement of Ukrainian specialists could become an important element of an international coalition to counter the growing threat of Iranian drones in the region.