From Battlefield to Black Market: Global Spread of Drone Expertise

The war in Ukraine has created a generation of highly skilled drone operators whose expertise is increasingly sought by states and non-state actors. Once veterans face the challenges of demobilisation, foreign militaries, mercenary groups and criminal networks will welcome their battlefield-honed knowledge. Jorge Rivero argues that this accelerating global diffusion of drone capabilities threatens to reshape conflict dynamics and poses significant security challenges for Western governments.