Votes for Drones: Turkey's election and the future of drone diplomacy

Votes for Drones: Turkey's election and the future of drone diplomacy

Author: The New Arab May 5, 2023 Duration: 21:11

Turkish citizen will be voting in a highly anticipated and consequential election on 14 May. 

The two frontrunners for the office of president, are incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the main opposition candidate Kemel Kilicdaroglu.

They have both been holding rallies, attempting to reach as many voters as possible. 

Opposition candidate Kemel Kilicdaroglu did cause a stir at a campaign event, when he questioned the private nature of Turkey's drone manufacturers, and asked whether there should be more state control. 

With a backlash brewing, he quickly changed direction, pledging full support to the industry. 

The incident did raise some questions. What's so special about Turkey's drones? How do the private manufacturers and the state work together? How does the state us the drones? And what impact will the upcoming election have on the domestic drone industry?

Joining us to discuss Turkey's drones is Soner Cagaptay (@SonerCagaptay), a senior fellow and the director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute (@WashInstitute). 


This podcast is written by Ali Abbas Ahmadi and produced by Hugo Goodridge.

Theme music by Omar al-Fil. 

Other music by Blue Dot Sessions.

To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


From a London newsroom, The New Arab Voice reaches across continents, offering a distinct perspective on events and ideas shaping communities from the Middle East and North Africa to Asia and global diasporas. This isn't just a headlines recap. Each episode weaves together rigorous news analysis, cultural insight, and historical context, treating complex political shifts and societal transformations with the depth they deserve. You'll hear from people living the stories-artists, analysts, and everyday voices-providing a nuanced understanding that moves beyond simplistic narratives. The podcast reflects the rich tapestry of the regions it covers, finding the connections between past and present, policy and personal experience. For listeners seeking to move past soundbites and explore the interplay of power, identity, and heritage, The New Arab Voice provides essential listening. It’s where current affairs meet deep storytelling, all grounded in the extensive journalistic tradition of The New Arab. Tune in for conversations that challenge assumptions and illuminate the underreported, fostering a more informed and engaged perspective on a dynamic part of the world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The New Arab Voice
Podcast Episodes
2025 in Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:15
The year is drawing to a close, which means its time for The New Arab Voice's annual review of year. To guide us through the tangled mess of the past 12 months, we're joined by The New Arab's Managing Editor Karim Trabou…
The Poachers Trail: Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:02
This is part 2 of a special investigation. You can find part 1 in your feeds now.For 15 months, The New Arab, in cooperation with Bridges Investigations, explored the shadowy world of Maltese bird hunters.We uncovered ho…
The Poachers Trail: Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:33
For 15 months, The New Arab, in cooperation with Bridges Investigations, explored the shadowy world of Maltese bird hunters.We uncovered how Maltese hunters, frustrated by local laws, were travelling to Egypt to slaughte…