The Pakistani arms deal, backed by Saudi Arabia, strengthens Sudan’s army and shifts the internal balance of power amid a wider Saudi–Emirati regional rivalry.

The West, in both its American and European forms, has not completely withdrawn from the African continent, but has restructured its security presence to become more pervasive and less visible.

Backed by regional support, the RSF militia now uses advanced drones to strike targets and consolidate control, especially in Darfur.

Since early July 2025, Iraq’s Kurdistan region has faced unprecedented drone and rocket attacks on airports and oil fields amid growing tensions with Baghdad over halted public-sector salaries.

China’s mosquito-sized drone and drone “mothership” highlight its push for tech dominance in future warfare, challenging traditional defenses and raising global concerns.