Indian Strategic Studies: Drone Power And Political Islam: How Turkey’s Military-Tech Complex Fuels Interventionism
AI Analysis
Turkey's military-tech complex, led by companies like Baykar, is leveraging drone technology to support interventionist policies in regions such as West Asia, North Africa, and the Caucasus. This approach aligns with Turkey's geopolitical ambitions and ideological goals under Erdoğan's leadership, blending defense innovation with political Islam.
Key Takeaways
- Turkey's drone deployments are prominent in Libya, Syria, and Nagorno-Karabakh.
- Baykar is a key player in Turkey's military-tech complex.
- Drones serve as tools for both military power and ideological influence.
- Turkey's strategy aligns with neo-Ottomanism and Islamist solidarity.
- Drone diplomacy blurs lines between state interests and transnational networks.
Why It Matters
Turkey's use of drones as instruments of both hard power and ideological influence represents a shift in regional power dynamics, potentially altering alliances and sovereignty norms. This strategy enhances Turkey's ability to project power and influence in strategically important regions, challenging conventional geopolitical paradigms.
Indian Strategic Studies: Drone Power And Political Islam: How Turkey’s Military-Tech Complex Fuels Interventionism
Mohammad Taha Ali
This paper explores the intersection of drone warfare and political Islam in contemporary Turkish foreign policy, arguing that Turkey’s burgeoning military-tech complex—anchored by companies like Baykar—has enabled a new form of interventionism across West Asia, North Africa, and the Caucasus. By examining Turkey’s drone deployments in Libya, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh, and beyond, the study highlights how unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have become instruments not just of hard power but also of ideological projection aligned with Ankara’s vision of neo-Ottomanism and Islamist solidarity. The analysis situates Turkey’s drone diplomacy within broader geopolitical ambitions where the fusion of defense-industrial innovation and political Islam under Erdoğan’s leadership enables a unique form of assertive, technologically driven interventionism. This paper also interrogates how Turkey’s use of drones blurs the lines between state security interests and transnational religious-political networks, reshaping conventional paradigms of regional influence, alliance making, and sovereignty.