How Global Demand for Military Drones is Transforming International Security and Geopolitics

{
  "authors": [
    "Steve Feldstein"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [
    "Tech and Democracy"
  ],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "democracy",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "DCG",
  "programs": [
    "Democracy, Conflict, and Governance"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [],
  "topics": [
    "Security",
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

In The Media

How Global Demand for Military Drones is Transforming International Security and Geopolitics

Military use of drones is surging globally. This paper argues that regional powers, particularly Iran, Israel, and Türkiye, are driving the proliferation of military drone exports due to cost efficiencies, improved capabilities, and minimal export restrictions.

By Steve Feldstein

Published on Dec 6, 2023

Georgetown Journal of International Affairs

About the Author

Steve Feldstein

Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program

Steve Feldstein is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in the Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program. His research focuses on technology, national security, the global context for democracy, and U.S. foreign policy.

Recent Work

Article
The Unintended Consequences of Iran’s Asymmetric Strategy and America’s AI War
- Steve Feldstein
Q&A
What We Know About Drone Use in the Iran War
- Steve Feldstein, Dara Massicot

Security Foreign Policy

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Paper
From Trade Dependence to Geopolitical Leverage: The EU in an Era of Weaponized Interdependence
As geopolitical rivalry weaponizes global supply chains, the EU’s true vulnerability lies in emerging-risk imports. For these goods, suppliers are growing more concentrated, substitution more difficult, and political risk is looming.
Sinan Ülgen
Commentary
Next Steps Toward Peace After the Armenian Elections
It’s time to build momentum, and Ankara is the venue of the next opportune diplomatic window to do this.
Alper Coşkun, Garo Paylan
Commentary
Strategic Europe
European Security Strategy: In Search of a New Ambition
The EU is putting together a new security strategy to meet today’s myriad challenges. But for any proposal to be effective, the union needs to grapple with its identity and ambitions.
Pierre Vimont
Commentary
Reviving Kosovo-Serbia Normalization Talks
Three years after the Ohrid Agreement, Kosovo and Serbia remain far from normalization. To revive implementation, the EU should abandon its ambiguity and act as an even-handed arbitrator.
+1
Miloš Pavković, Fitim Gashi, Iliriana Gjoni, …
Commentary
Emissary
Washington and Tehran’s Very Dangerous Moment
The Islamic Republic’s words and actions suggest that it has changed its approach to both diplomacy and war.
Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Europe trade economy container supply chains

Paper

From Trade Dependence to Geopolitical Leverage: The EU in an Era of Weaponized Interdependence

As geopolitical rivalry weaponizes global supply chains, the EU’s true vulnerability lies in emerging-risk imports. For these goods, suppliers are growing more concentrated, substitution more difficult, and political risk is looming.

Sinan Ülgen

Pashinyan surrounded by supporters while speaking to reporters

Commentary

Next Steps Toward Peace After the Armenian Elections

It’s time to build momentum, and Ankara is the venue of the next opportune diplomatic window to do this.

Alper Coşkun, Garo Paylan

Commentary

Strategic Europe

European Security Strategy: In Search of a New Ambition

The EU is putting together a new security strategy to meet today’s myriad challenges. But for any proposal to be effective, the union needs to grapple with its identity and ambitions.

Pierre Vimont

Commentary

Reviving Kosovo-Serbia Normalization Talks

Three years after the Ohrid Agreement, Kosovo and Serbia remain far from normalization. To revive implementation, the EU should abandon its ambiguity and act as an even-handed arbitrator.

- +1
Miloš Pavković, Fitim Gashi, Iliriana Gjoni, …

Commentary

Emissary

Washington and Tehran’s Very Dangerous Moment

The Islamic Republic’s words and actions suggest that it has changed its approach to both diplomacy and war.

Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar