The drone revolution exacerbates the north-south divide. Wealthy nations invest in AI and drone production. Developing nations, struggling with debt and climate vulnerability, face growing security gaps. Red Sea disruptions hit African and Asian consumers hardest. Arms proliferation to fragile states—cheap FPV drones flowing to warlords and militias—intensifies conflicts with weak governance. Sudan’s civil war, with both sides using drones against civilians, represents the leading edge of a deeply troubling trend. The technology cannot be controlled through arms embargoes because components are commercially available worldwide.
PART VII — THE SEARCH FOR PEACE