In the rapidly evolving world of aviation security, drones have emerged as both a tool and a threat, forcing governments and industry leaders to rethink how they protect the skies. Over the past two months, a surge in drone incursions—most notably in Europe—has prompted not only airport shutdowns but also a wave of diplomatic and technological responses that could reshape the global drone landscape for years to come.
On October 22, 2025, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs unveiled an ambitious “drone diplomacy” initiative, signaling its intent to become a primary supplier of drones to diplomatic allies and European countries facing mounting Russian military threats. According to DroneXL, this move strategically positions Taiwan as a crucial alternative to Chinese drone suppliers, while also strengthening alliances with like-minded democracies through technology sharing and collaboration.
The timing of this announcement is more than coincidental. Since early September 2025, European airspace has been repeatedly violated by mysterious drones widely believed to be Russian in origin. These incursions have disrupted critical infrastructure and triggered unprecedented airport closures. On September 23, Copenhagen Airport, Scandinavia’s busiest, was forced to shut down for nearly four hours, leading to 77 flight cancellations and 217 delays. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen didn’t mince words, calling it “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date.” That same evening, Oslo Airport was closed for three hours, and on October 3, Munich Airport suspended operations overnight, canceling 17 outbound flights. Poland, meanwhile, shot down at least three Russian drones in September after they violated its airspace, and Estonia invoked NATO Article 4 consultations following airspace breaches by Russian MiG-31 fighters. Reports of suspicious drone activity have also come in from Romania, Latvia, Belgium, and Germany, all near critical infrastructure or military bases.
“I hope that everybody recognizes now that there is a hybrid war,” Frederiksen told reporters. “There is only one country willing to threaten us, and it is Russia.”
In this tense environment, Taiwan’s “drone diplomacy” unfolds in two phases. The first targets Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, offering civilian drones for applications like agriculture, disaster prevention, logistics, coast guard operations, healthcare, and infrastructure surveillance. The second phase is more pointed, supplying military-grade drones, unmanned surface vessels, and underwater drones to Asia-Pacific partners such as Japan and the Philippines, as well as Central and Eastern European countries directly threatened by Russia—including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany. As explained by Charlie Chiang, head of MOFA’s Department of NGO International Affairs, “the task force will identify international partners’ needs and relay them to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which oversees the drone industry.”
This coordinated approach is designed to match local Taiwanese suppliers with foreign buyers for tailored solutions. While no concrete timeline has been set, implementation discussions are scheduled for the week of October 27, 2025. The urgency is clear: as Russian hybrid warfare intensifies, neighboring countries are desperate to build robust air defense networks.
The numbers tell a compelling story. Taiwan’s drone exports surged by a staggering 749% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, totaling $11.89 million. Poland led the charge, importing $6.48 million worth of drones—over 54% of Taiwan’s total drone exports. Germany followed, importing $1.46 million (a 258-fold increase), and the Czech Republic entered the market with $1.04 million in imports. This explosive growth reflects a broader European demand for secure, non-Chinese drone supply chains following Taiwan’s own ban on government use of Chinese drones and heavy investment in domestic production.
Central to these efforts is the Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance (TEDIBOA), launched in September 2024 and now boasting over 200 companies spanning the entire drone supply chain. Taiwan’s government has committed to procuring nearly 50,000 military drones from local manufacturers by 2027 and producing 180,000 civilian drones annually by 2028. In a significant milestone, Taiwanese manufacturer Thunder Tiger was added to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Blue UAS Cleared List in September 2025, enabling federal procurement and further validating Taiwan’s credibility as a secure supplier. In fact, Taiwan exported 5,017 drones to the United States in the first seven months of 2025—nearly six times the total for all of 2024.
Diplomatic efforts have also intensified. Taiwan has signed memoranda of understanding on drone cooperation with Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and the Czech Republic, emphasizing technological collaboration and the creation of secure alternatives to Chinese suppliers. As DroneXL observes, “Taiwan’s drone diplomacy represents a fascinating evolution in how nations project soft power in the 21st century. Rather than traditional aid packages, Taiwan is offering cutting-edge defense technology that addresses Europe’s most pressing security challenge right now—Russian drone harassment.”
Yet, as Taiwan’s ambitions grow, so too does the need for robust counter-drone measures. On October 24, 2025, Australian-based DroneShield released a comprehensive White Paper titled “Best Practices for Counter-Drone Deployment at Civil Airports,” highlighting the urgency of addressing drone threats to airports worldwide. DroneShield’s initiative is more than just thought leadership. By partnering with SRI Group—an aviation security advisory led by former U.S. TSA Deputy Administrator John Halinski—they’re offering independent, vendor-neutral Counter-UAS Threat & Risk Assessments. These assessments are designed to help airport leadership identify vulnerabilities, prioritize mitigation investments, and develop counter-drone programs that protect passengers and preserve operational integrity.
“DroneShield is doing more than publishing a paper—they are creating a pathway for airports to act,” Halinski said. “By offering airport leadership access to independent Counter-UAS Threat & Risk Assessments, DroneShield is ensuring that decisions are based on objective data and operational realities. It shows a real commitment to the safety of airports and the passengers they serve.”
DroneShield’s CEO, Oleg Vornik, echoed this sentiment: “This is about more than technology, it’s about leadership. With the release of Best Practices for Counter-Drone Deployment at Civil Airports and our collaboration with SRI Group, we’re not only driving awareness but delivering the tools and insights airports need to protect themselves from aerial threats.”
DroneShield will present its findings and services at the upcoming Airports Council World Annual Assembly, Conference and Exhibition in Canada, where airport executives can initiate the drone threat assessment process and receive tailored recommendations from SRI Group.
Despite these advances, challenges remain. While Taiwan’s drone industry is soaring, it still lags behind major producers like Ukraine, which manufactures 4 million drones annually. Taiwan targets 50,000 military drones by 2027—a fraction of that output—and Taiwanese components typically cost more than Chinese alternatives. However, as Russian hybrid warfare escalates and European defense spending rises, Taiwan’s “zero-red” supply chain—free from Chinese components—could become indispensable.
The intersection of security, technology, and diplomacy has never been more pronounced. As nations scramble to defend their airspace and critical infrastructure, Taiwan’s rise as a democratic drone supply hub and the global push for advanced counter-drone measures signal a new chapter in aviation security—one where alliances are forged not just through treaties, but through the circuitry and software of tomorrow’s drones.