Taiwan Launches “Drone Diplomacy” Initiative To Supply Allies Facing Russian Threats
Journalists capture images of suicide drones on display at Taiwan’s 2023 Taipei Aerospace and Defence Technology Exhibition, as recent tender documents indicate the nation is expanding its military drone capabilities. Photo credit: EPA-EFE
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Taiwan will supply drones to diplomatic allies and European countries confronting Russian military threats through a new “drone diplomacy” initiative announced Wednesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The strategic move positions Taiwan as a critical alternative to Chinese drone dominance while building international alliances through technology.
The announcement comes as Russian drone incursions have plagued European airspace for weeks, forcing airport closures and triggering NATO consultations. Taiwan sees an opportunity to strengthen ties with like-minded democracies while ramping up its domestic drone industry to counter Chinese military pressure.
Two-Phase Strategy Targets Civilian and Military Applications
Speaking at the EU-Taiwan Drones Technology & Export forum, Charlie Chiang, head of MOFA’s Department of NGO International Affairs, outlined a two-phase approach. MOFA plans to establish a dedicated “drone diplomacy task force” to coordinate the effort.
Phase one focuses on supplying Taiwan’s diplomatic allies through drone donations for civilian applications including agriculture, logistics, disaster prevention, coast guard operations, healthcare, and infrastructure surveillance. These partners span Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Phase two targets like-minded international partners facing security threats. Taiwan will supply military-grade drones, unmanned surface vessels, and underwater drones to Asia-Pacific partners including Japan and the Philippines. Central and Eastern European countries threatened by Russia—Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany—will receive drones “for military use, especially for the land and battlefield under the threat of Russia,” Chiang said.
The task force will identify international partners’ needs and relay them to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which oversees the drone industry. MOEA will then match local Taiwanese suppliers with foreign buyers for tailored solutions.
Asked when the phases will begin, Chiang said no timeline has been determined, but MOFA is scheduled to discuss implementation with MOEA at a ministerial meeting next week.
Russian Drone Threats Drive European Demand
Taiwan’s initiative directly addresses escalating Russian hybrid warfare across Europe. Since early September 2025, mysterious drones widely believed to be Russian have menaced European airspace, disrupting airports and military installations.
Copenhagen Airport—Scandinavia’s largest—shut down for nearly four hours on September 23 after drone sightings. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called it “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date.” Norway’s Oslo Airport closed for three hours the same evening. Munich Airport suspended operations overnight on October 3, canceling 17 outbound flights.
Poland shot down at least three Russian drones that violated its airspace in September, while Estonia invoked NATO Article 4 consultations after three Russian MiG-31 fighters breached its airspace. Romania, Latvia, Belgium, and Germany have all reported suspicious drone activity near critical infrastructure and 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.”
Chiang noted that “as the Russian-Ukrainian war continues, neighboring countries have been harassed by Russian drones and are looking to build an air defense network.”
Taiwan’s Drone Exports Surge 749% as Europe Seeks Alternatives
Taiwan’s drone industry has exploded alongside European defense concerns. The island exported $11.89 million worth of drones in the first half of 2025—a staggering 749% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Poland led imports with $6.48 million in purchases, accounting for over 54% of Taiwan’s total drone exports. Germany ranked third with $1.46 million—a 258-fold increase from the previous year. The Czech Republic, a new market for Taiwan in 2025, imported $1.04 million worth of drones.
The surge reflects growing demand for secure, non-Chinese drone supply chains. Taiwan banned government use of Chinese drones and has invested heavily in domestic production. The Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunities Alliance (TEDIBOA), formed in September 2024, now includes over 200 companies spanning the entire drone supply chain.
Taiwan’s government plans to procure nearly 50,000 military drones from local manufacturers by 2027. Chiang noted that the development of Taiwan’s drone industry has trailed the information technology and artificial intelligence sectors due to “insufficient production volume”—a problem the massive government procurement aims to solve.
Positioning Taiwan as Democratic Drone Supply Hub
The drone diplomacy initiative builds on Taiwan’s broader strategy to position itself as the primary drone supply chain hub for democratic nations. Taiwan leverages world-leading semiconductor expertise and electronics manufacturing infrastructure to produce drones free of Chinese components—a critical selling point for Western governments.
In September 2025, Taiwanese manufacturer Thunder Tiger became the first Taiwan company added to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Blue UAS Cleared List, opening the door to federal procurement contracts. 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.
Taiwan has signed memoranda of understanding on drone cooperation with Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and the Czech Republic. The partnerships emphasize technological collaboration while creating secure alternatives to Chinese suppliers.
DroneXL’s Take on Taiwan’s Drone Diplomacy
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.
We’ve been tracking Taiwan’s drone industry transformation for over a year, from the launch of TEDIBOA in April 2025 to the massive ramp-up in military procurement announced in August. The export numbers tell the story: a 749% increase in six months isn’t gradual growth—it’s an industry hitting escape velocity.
The timing is no coincidence. European countries watching Russian drones shut down Copenhagen and Munich airports are suddenly very interested in counter-drone technology and secure supply chains. Taiwan recognized this window and moved decisively with a formal diplomatic initiative backed by government coordination.
But let’s be clear about what’s really happening here. Taiwan faces existential pressure from China, which regularly flies drones around the island and has not ruled out military force to achieve “reunification.” By building strategic alliances through drone diplomacy—particularly with NATO members—Taiwan is creating a web of security relationships that make it harder for Beijing to isolate the island.
The question is whether Taiwan can scale production fast enough to meet demand while maintaining quality and competitive pricing. Ukrainian manufacturers produce 4 million drones annually. Taiwan is targeting just 50,000 military drones by 2027, plus 180,000 civilian drones per year by 2028. That’s nowhere near Ukraine’s output, and Taiwanese components typically cost more than Chinese alternatives.
Still, if Russian hybrid warfare continues escalating and European defense spending keeps climbing, Taiwan’s “zero-red” supply chain could become invaluable. The semiconductor industry taught the world one lesson: when you need the most advanced technology without geopolitical complications, Taiwan delivers.
What do you think? Will Taiwan’s drone diplomacy reshape global supply chains, or is the production gap too large to overcome? Share your thoughts in the comments below.