Ukraine to help open Strait of Hormuz as part of Gulf weapons deals, Zelensky says (Kyiv Independent)

[Amaryllis]

https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-to-export-weapons-to-middle-east-under-new-10-year-deals-zelensky-confirms/

Ukraine will supply weapons and defense technology, including systems that can help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, to Gulf countries under new agreements, President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters on March 30.

"All agreements that will be legally formalized are extremely important for our country," Zelensky said. "Ukraine has never had such agreements with this region before."

Ukraine will also apparently offer sea drones as part of its defense of the shipping corridor in the Persian Gulf. In peacetime, about 20 % of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. In response to U.S.‑Israeli military assaults, Iran closed the strait, sending global oil prices skyrocketing.

Zelensky framed Ukraine's experience keeping shipping lanes in the Black Sea open as a component of the Gulf deals.

"The experience of unblocking sea trade routes with the help of among other things, sea drones – could this experience help unblock the Strait of Hormuz?" Zelensky said. "They know that they can count on our expertise in this area, and we spoke in detail about sharing our experience of the Black Sea corridor and how it functions."