Albert Vidal Ribe
Europe’s defence relationships with Gulf Cooperation Council states are deepening. While the United States remains the Gulf’s primary security guarantor, European firms are carving out a complementary role supporting defence localisation and attracting Gulf investment into Europe’s own defence-industrial base.
European defence cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states is often overshadowed by larger defence deals with the United States. Nonetheless, Europe’s defence ties with the Gulf are extensive and have evolved significantly, shifting from a supplier-focused relationship to one centred on arms-production localisation since around 2018 and, more recently, on growing Gulf investment in Europe’s defence ecosystem.
This evolving relationship is enhancing GCC states’ strategic flexibility, enabling them not only to purchase platforms and systems that the US may not be willing or able to supply, but also to collaborate on technology development.
European defence sales to the Gulf
As Table 1 illustrates, European companies supply arms to GCC states in various sectors. Although they are influential actors in the air domain, supplying fixed-wing fighters, transport and tanker aircraft, and helicopters, they still trail the US, which supplies two-thirds of GCC fighter aircraft compared to one-third from Europe. In the naval domain, European shipyards are dominant, delivering a wide range of vessels, from frigates and corvettes to patrol craft and a landing platform dock. Over 72% of GCC frigates and corvettes were built in Europe compared to less than 14% in the US. In the land domain, the US holds a clear advantage, particularly in ground-based air-defence systems.
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European assists with defence localisation in the Gulf
As more Gulf states began to focus on localising arms production after 2018 to align with their economic diversification plans and strengthen strategic autonomy, European defence firms also expanded their localisation efforts in the region. While many initiatives have been channelled through national defence ‘champions’ (state-backed conglomerates), others are also being established outside of their purview.
In the United Arab Emirates, EDGE – the national defence conglomerate – has formed a wide range of joint ventures (JVs) and partnerships with large European defence companies (see Table 3). Notably, EDGE and CMN Naval recently co-developed an uninhabited surface vessel and established a new shipbuilding JV that includes a design bureau, while a JV with Fincantieri has been awarded contracts worth EUR900 million (USD970m). Beyond JVs, EDGE and other UAE-based companies are partnering with European firms to localise technologies and capabilities (see Table 2).
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