An expert explained why new conflicts will resemble terrorist attacks
The war in Ukraine demonstrates a fundamental shift in the nature of modern armed conflicts, in which drones are playing an increasingly decisive role. It is their widespread use that is shaping new rules of warfare and creating threats that could define future global conflicts.
According to the author, drones have already become the primary weapon of modern warfare, and the combat operations themselves increasingly resemble a video game for those who control the attacks remotely.
“The emergence of drones as the primary weapon of aggression threatens to turn all of this into something akin to a video game for all participants,” Perris notes.
In the analyst’s view, these new realities are already forcing states to rethink their defense planning. Instead of the traditional emphasis on large warships or army size, strike drones, their deployment systems, and delivery methods are becoming increasingly important.
At the same time, the number of military personnel no longer guarantees an advantage on the battlefield, as technological capabilities can become the decisive factor in victory.
The author also quotes a Ukrainian drone operator who explained how modern technology is blurring the line between the front lines and the rear.
“The technology we have today means that war is no longer something where you can simply enter enemy territory and keep your distance from it. It will come right to your doorstep. And when you smell war on your doorstep, you perceive it very differently than when you’re just watching a picture on TV.”
According to Perris, drones and missiles make virtually every citizen of a country a potential target, regardless of whether they are far from the front lines.
The expert believes that the conflicts of the new generation will resemble not so much classic invasions as prolonged campaigns of remote attacks.
“We will no longer be able to observe the actions of our armies from a distance. The new war will be much more like a terrorist insurgency—except that the terrorists will be hostile states carrying out remote attacks.”
He emphasizes that while massive bombings of civilian infrastructure used to be merely a prelude to a ground invasion, the situation has now changed.
“No one is planning an invasion or occupation of our country, and, at least in my lifetime, it’s unlikely anyone will. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the conflicts that may affect us will be on a lower level—somewhere between a threat and a nuisance—but they will be constant and protracted. By operating from a distance and using remotely controlled technology, our enemies will have the ability (which we will also have) to become a real bloody thorn in our side: hornets that we can swat, but whose nests we cannot destroy,” the British columnist concluded.
British columnist Matthew Perris writes about this in an article for The Spectator.
As a reminder, the full-scale war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed the nature of modern warfare, turning unmanned aerial vehicles into the primary weapon on the battlefield. U.S. President Donald Trump made this statement during a conversation with the media on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
As a reminder, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States does not need Ukraine’s help in defending against Iranian drone strikes. He emphasized that American drones are “the best in the world” and that their capabilities surpass those of any others.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy commented on U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that the United States allegedly does not need Ukraine’s help in combating Iranian “Shahed” drones. The head of state called these remarks “rhetoric” and stressed that what matters most are concrete actions and cooperation between countries.
