Geopolitical Dimension of Libyan Drone Warfare: The Use of Turkish Drones on the North African Battlefields

Abstract

As a result of the "Arab Spring" and the transformation of the global world order, the MENA region, and the relations with North African countries therein, are on the rise both for the international and regional actors including Russia and China as well as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel, Iran and Turkey, respectively. Examining Turkey’s expansive foreign policy, we can also get an idea of how Ankara wishes to increase its sphere of interest in the wider region, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean region, by supporting a North African country. In recent years, Turkey has become one of the best-known and most important global exporters of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, in the world military equipment market. Turkish drone development and warfare has introduced many innovative military operational concepts that have achieved great success in the conflicts of recent years. The study examines how 'new types' of technologies such as UAVs can shape regional power dynamics through the case study of the Libyan civil war and drone warfare.

Keywords

• geopolitics; uavs; drones; libya; turkey