According to defense expert Kelly Grieco from the Stimson Center, the US stocks could also be limited. In an interview with “Spiegel” she calculated that existing THAAD missiles in the Middle East could only last for a few weeks if they were used continuously. Israel announced on Monday that it had already destroyed numerous Iranian launchers. Whether this will permanently reduce attacks remains an open question.
And the help for the Gulf states could also pay off for Zelenskyj. Until now, the rich oil monarchies had held back when it came to military or financial support for Ukraine. If Kiev now helps protect human lives in Doha or Abu Dhabi, this could persuade the rulers in the Gulf to also help Ukraine in its defensive battle against Russia.
In addition, it would be like an accolade for the Ukrainian arms industry if the USA and the Gulf states were to buy weapons in Ukraine. This has a decisive advantage for Zelensky: Europe also needs cost-effective defensive weapons, as the repeated incursions of Russian drones into the airspace of European countries in recent months have shown.
There are therefore several arguments for Zelensky to come to the aid of the states in the Gulf region. If the coalition of Israel, the United States and the Gulf states manages to defeat Iran militarily within the next few months, it could be a turning point in the war for Ukraine, as the rich oil monarchies’ attention then turns to those who helped them protect the lives of their civilians.
