In mid-May, I presented at a conference on curbing missile proliferation in the Middle East in Amman, Jordan. The UAE claims it intercepted missile attacks on Al-Dhafra Air Base and other cities, but without a dialogue, missile defenses are a stop gap to relieve pressure, but hardly a long-term solution. States that have invested heavily in missile defenses have found that the challenges of detecting and destroying them are extensive. The Gulf Cooperation Council is attempting to integrate their missile defenses and increase information sharing but defending against maneuvering capabilities is an exceptional challenge. In the absence of a regional dialogue, missile programs are maturing without restriction, but the invasion of Ukraine offers a moment to reset the narrative on missile capabilities.

Source: New York Times June 04, 2022 08:39 UTC