Since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, marking the end of the era dominated by a single superpower, the global power structure has become more complex yet stable.
Nevertheless, this does not mean the world will see peace; on the contrary, medium powers' roles on the geopolitical stage have become more significant, capable of notably altering regional situations.
Among these medium powers, Turkey's performance has been particularly noteworthy.
Turkey has been expanding its influence in geopolitical activities in the Middle East and Europe, actively intervening in various affairs.
According to reports, a recent incident occurred in the Horo Guduru Welega region of the Oromia administrative zone in Ethiopia, near the Red Sea in East Africa, where a Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 military drone crashed or was shot down by anti-government forces.
The drone was equipped with "MAM-1" laser-guided smart munitions.
This incident may be the latest evidence of Turkey's involvement in the Ethiopian civil war.
In fact, Turkey has long participated in civil wars in several North African countries, including Libya, Egypt, Sudan, and Tunisia.
Currently, we know that the Ethiopian National Defense Forces lost a Bayraktar TB2 armed drone in the region.
However, within two days of the incident, no mainstream media confirmed this news.
According to a tweet from May 22, 2024, the primary source of this information, neither the Ethiopian authorities nor the manufacturer formally stated that they had manufactured or purchased Bayraktar TB2 drones.
Therefore, the details of how the drone appeared in the region remain unverified.
It is understood that Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 high-performance drones and MAM-1 missiles are usually only provided to some strategic partners and countries with close relations with Turkey and are not traded on the open market.
International observers analyze that the appearance of Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drones and MAM-1 missiles in the Ethiopian conflict area seems to prove Turkey's strong interest in this important country near the Red Sea.
The MAM-1 laser-guided missile, fully named "Mini Akıllı Mühimmat," meaning "Mini Smart Munitions," is produced by the Turkish defense industry manufacturer Roketsan.
This laser-guided and GPS/INS-guided bomb was developed by Turkey for unmanned aerial vehicles, light attack aircraft, fighter jets, and air platforms with low payload capacity for air-to-ground strike missions.
Turkey claims that the MAM-1 can accurately strike stationary and moving targets.
Bayraktar TB2 drones and MAM-1 munitions have been actively used in multiple conflict areas, known for their precision and effectiveness.
In addition to Ethiopia, Burkina Faso also reported conflicts involving these drones.
FASO and LRAN have been experiencing ongoing violence in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, and the drone incident reportedly further exacerbated the complex situation in the region.
The use of advanced military drones like the Bayraktar TB2 shows the escalating military activities, possibly involving Turkish forces, or at least proving that the conflict parties have close ties with Ankara.
This incident highlights the increasingly important role of Turkey's advanced drones in modern conflict zones in the Middle East and North Africa.
With its precision and capabilities, the Bayraktar TB2 has changed the game in military operations.
If this incident is confirmed, it will reflect the growing reliance on Turkish drone technology in complex and volatile regions like Oromia, as well as Ankara's expanding influence in the Red Sea area of East Africa.
Overall, with the declining power of Western countries like the U.S. and the rise of emerging powers like China, the world is gradually entering an era of chaos and balance.
Some medium powers with renewed ambitions are increasingly participating in and promoting the restructuring of the global geopolitical framework.
Turkey's rise and active geopolitical activities exemplify this era's characteristics.
Through military and political intervention in multiple regions, Turkey is attempting to expand its influence and reshape regional balances.
Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drones and their accompanying MAM-1 missiles have become important tools in its global conflict involvement.
In the Ethiopian civil war, Turkey's intervention might complicate the conflict further, bringing more uncertainty.
The use of drones significantly enhances the precision and destructiveness of combat, further impacting the situation.
At the same time, Turkey's involvement in East Africa could intensify the power struggles within and outside the region, bringing broader geopolitical implications.
Therefore, the future geopolitical landscape will be more complex, and relationships between countries will become more dynamic.
How to maintain national interests in this new international environment will be a crucial issue for governments.
For Turkey, balancing its interests in the Middle East, North Africa, and East Africa will be key to its future foreign policy.
Overall, the world is undergoing profound changes.
In this new era, the role of medium powers has become more significant, and they can influence global and regional power structures through flexible diplomatic and military means.
Turkey, as a key player among these, exemplifies this trend through its activities in multiple conflict zones.
In the future, the actions of Turkey and other medium powers will largely determine the direction of global geopolitics.
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