On May 4th, the series International Dialogues in Constitutional Law hosted Professor Alejandro Chehtman, from the Universidad Torcuato di Tella (Argentina), in order to discuss “The challenge of drones: proportionality and the use of force”. In his research, Chehtman analized if the use of drones in contemporary armed conflicts would be radically asymmetrical, in light of the principles of proportionality and necessity. Based on extensive investigations of the data of such conflicts in the years between 2007 and 2013, he observed that drones are not as precise or sufficiently discriminatory in order to morally allow for the use of force in such circumstances, nor have they been successful in containing threats or preventing damages. Therefore, he concluded that though not in direct violation of the principle of necessity or ultima ratio, drones violate the ad bellum principle of proportionality.
