Abstract

Almost halfway through the 2020s decade, the world has seen a massive increase in armed conflicts. Wars combined with the influx of new technology has birthed an era of technologically superior weapons which are seen as the next milestone in the arena of war. This research project aims to critically examine the rapid advancement of technological innovation in weapons, specifically drones and how, as unmanned aerial weapons, they can affect a state’s sovereignty. The paper hopes to delve into the various facets of drone use, ranging from its advantages to the implication of the same in international law. In order to effectively analyze the consequences of using such unmanned aerial vehicles, the research also studies the cases study of USA’s drone use under the Obama administration, owing to the widespread use, criticisms and it being so extensively covered globally by subject matter experts. Moreover, the increased usage of drones by states in global conflicts has uncovered a major issue regarding the targeted states’ sovereignty and how such drone attacks can affect the security of the citizens in a grave manner. In order to provide a comprehensive review of the aforementioned, the paper highlights the legal framework already in place and the role of noted international judicial bodies which can help adjudicate any international conflict regarding the usage of drones between two nations. The laws in place are also evaluated, keeping in mind the ethics behind drone strikes in order to reach a conclusion about the crux of the research paper. In conclusion, this study emphasizes on the loopholes that are being exploited by drone usage and underscores the urgent need to address those in order to guard state sovereignty and the safety of its citizens. Given the frequent usage of drones in recent wars such as Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine, it’s extremely important to implement reforms which effectively address every issue highlighted in the research paper.

Keywords