International Institute for Strategic Studies | Albert Vidal Ribe
Arab Gulf states are urgently seeking to replenish and enhance their air and missile defenses following extensive Iranian missile and uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks in 2026, which depleted existing stocks and exposed significant capability gaps. These nations have accelerated their search for new systems, approaching suppliers like the United States, United Kingdom, South Korea, and Ukraine. The US has approved over $41 billion in emergency arms sales, while the UK has convened defense companies and established a task force to expedite exports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also signed defense agreements with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, exploring co-production partnerships. However, rearmament faces substantial challenges including long lead times, supply-chain bottlenecks, workforce constraints, material availability (exacerbated by China's raw material restrictions), and economic strain. Furthermore, major suppliers like the US, Israel, and European nations are prioritizing their own inventory replenishment and commitments to Ukraine and Taiwan. Consequently, Gulf states are also exploring low-cost solutions like interceptor drones, lasers, and gun systems to counter Iran's less sophisticated threats, while their indigenous defense industrial capabilities remain limited.
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