The rising importance of armed drones in modern warfare has created new opportunities for countries looking to expand their influence in the global arms market. According to data from the Center for a New American Security, Turkey currently leads in drone exports, followed by China, the United States, Iran, and Israel. While figures vary across sources, Turkey, China, the United States, and Israel consistently rank among the top exporters — with Iran and Russia increasingly vying for a place in that group.Arms exports, however, serve more than just economic purposes. For many countries, they are also powerful tools of foreign policy. To better understand this dynamic, we asked experts why leading drone exporters hold an edge in global sales, who their main buyers are, and how drone exports advance broader foreign policy objectives.Read more below.Pinar Tank Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute OsloTurkey’s drone program has become a cornerstone of its foreign policy and military activism. Largely led by Baykar’s Bayraktar TB2 and Akıncı platforms, Turkish drones are key to the country’s geopolitical power. Turkish drones have the advantage of short delivery timelines, low costs, and proven combat performance. Furthermore, despite existing regulatory frameworks, Turkish drone exports benefit from lax export conditions, raising humanitarian risks. They now make up 65 percent of the global military drone market — ahead of the United States, Israel, and China. Major buyers include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and multiple African states. Africa remains a key export market for Turkey: In 2021 alone, Turkish arms exports to the continent grew by over 700 percent. The development of national unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities has enabled Turkey to pursue drone diplomacy — strengthening defense partnerships while simultaneously challenging regional geopolitical competitors in key markets such as Africa, Central Asia, and the Caucasus.Matthew P. Funaiole
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The rising importance of armed drones in modern warfare has created new opportunities for countries looking to expand their influence in the global arms market. According to data from the Center for a New American Security, Turkey currently leads in drone exports, followed by China, the United States, Iran, and Israel. While figures vary across sources, Turkey, China, the United States, and Israel consistently rank among the top exporters — with Iran and Russia increasingly vying for a place in that group.Arms exports, however, serve more than just economic purposes. For many countries, they are also powerful tools of foreign
