He brought them to demonstrate, through military and medical offerings, that Africa has no greater friend north of the Mediterranean. “Everywhere I go in Africa, everyone asks about [Turkish drones],” Erdogan said on a recent visit to the continent. For Turkey, drones have been a political force multiplier, giving it access to many governments. Merely creating relationships with African countries has given it leverage in other parts of the world, too. Many of the grievances of African countries towards the West are opaque to Western diplomats or seem like a relic of the past.

Source: The North Africa Journal December 27, 2021 06:57 UTC