Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Gulf states amid the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel have underscored the vulnerability of critical infrastructure in the region. Even with strong interception rates, a single successful strike could cause severe regional and global disruption. The threat mirrors challenges Ukraine faced early in Russia’s invasion, particularly from Iranian-designed drones, forcing Kyiv to rapidly adapt its air defenses and develop new countermeasures.

Ukraine has since accumulated significant expertise in intercepting drones and ballistic missiles and is now sharing that knowledge with Gulf partners. This creates an opportunity to deepen cooperation between Ukraine, the Gulf states and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Incidents involving missiles and drones targeting territory belonging to alliance members highlight that the threat extends beyond the Gulf, making collective air and missile defense a shared priority.

The upcoming summit in Ankara offers a timely chance to revitalize the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative and formalize closer coordination. By integrating Ukraine’s battlefield experience with the alliance’s longstanding defense frameworks and the Gulf states’ regional capabilities, policymakers can strengthen joint defenses against a persistent Iranian missile and drone threat that affects multiple regions.