A CHANGING LANDSCAPE: TURKEY’S DRONE DIPLOMACY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Loading...
Authors
Watterson, Philip J.
Subjects
Turkey
Türkiye
sub-Saharan Africa
drone
UAV
unmanned aerial vehicle
TB2
MQ-9
drone diplomacy
Erdoğan
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Niger
Bayraktar
Baykar
AKP
Justice and Development Party
Türkiye
sub-Saharan Africa
drone
UAV
unmanned aerial vehicle
TB2
MQ-9
drone diplomacy
Erdoğan
Ethiopia
Nigeria
Niger
Bayraktar
Baykar
AKP
Justice and Development Party
Advisors
Gingeras, Ryan
Date of Issue
2023-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Turkey increasingly sees itself as mid-tier power capable of projecting influence from beyond its near periphery. This research examines the motivations for Turkey’s overtures to sub-Saharan Africa within the broader context of its evolving foreign policy. It also explains how Turkey fulfills a growing role within the sub-African market with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, by examining case studies of Ethiopia and Nigeria, among others. Moreover, it explores the implications—both domestic and within sub-Saharan Africa—that arise from Turkey’s use of drones as a tool of its foreign policy. Many contemporary authors look at the role of Turkey’s drone sales in the context of the last few years when Turkey initially exported drones. This thesis argues that Turkey’s drone outreach continues the evolution of Turkey's foreign policy from at least the early 2010s, and the growing sub-Saharan African market provides Turkey with new opportunities to project influence while serving domestic economic and political interests. Finally, Turkey’s rapid increase in drone sales also highlights how the security landscape of sub-Saharan Africa continues to shift. This change and Turkey’s increased involvement in the region contribute to a potentially significant, though still nascent, impact on the interests and policy of the United States across the region.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.