In the port of Joya Tauro, a major event occurred two weeks ago when six containers from China were opened, revealing Wing Long II model unmanned aerial vehicles. Each drone is 10 meters long, has a wingspan of around 20 meters, and weighs 3 tons. They were disguised as wind turbine components and arrived on the ship MSC Arina, with two operating stations also included. The drones were intended to be smuggled to Benghazi, Libya from Italy in an attempt to circumvent a UN embargo.
The Italian authorities, tipped off by American intelligence, intercepted the shipment. This capture followed the arrest of two Libyan citizens in Canada in April for attempting to purchase Chinese drones in exchange for Libyan oil. Wing Long II drones are used by advanced militaries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where leader Mohammed bin Zayed has shown interest in advancing relations with China.
Recently, the UAE has engaged with China more frequently due to stalled F-35 deal negotiations with the US. A meeting between UAE and Chinese military leaders hints at potential cooperation on China’s Chengdu J-20 fighter jet. This continued relationship between the UAE and China raises questions about shifts in global military alliances.
The interception of the drones and larger trend of UAE-China military cooperation highlight a complex geopolitical landscape where traditional alliances may be evolving. The success of Italian authorities in halting the drone shipment suggests that there is a growing need for international cooperation to monitor and regulate weapons transfers.