Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken announced that Paris will send an anti-drone team to the country, which saw unprecedented drone incursions over airports and military sites last week.
The sightings in Belgium are the latest in a wave of drone sightings in European skies, sparking renewed debate over the European ability to defend itself against emergency security threats.
In response, Defence Minister Francken pitched an emergency €50 million heavy drone defence plan and asked for assistance from Belgium’s neighbours.
France, following Germany, is the second to pledge support publicly.
The French deployment “strengthens our collective security and showcases European unity in countering hybrid threats”, Francken wrote on social media on Friday evening, without providing further details.
The German defence ministry said it will support Belgium with counter-drone capabilities. German air force troops arrived on Thursday to assess the situation, and additional forces expected to follow shortly.
Brussels – home to EU institutions and the Western NATO military alliance – has seen its airport shut three times throughout the last week.
But drones have also been spotted over military sites, including in Limburg where a military base hosts nuclear bombers and near Florennes, where Belgium’s new F-35 fighter jets are stationed. Further sightings were reported over a nuclear research facility in Mol, as well as above training areas and the army headquarters.
The Belgian government approved Francken’s emergency proposal – said to include anti-drone guns and jammers – on Friday. However, other options must be explored prior to final approval.
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Readiness to shoot drones
Belgian authorities are not ruling out shooting down the drones.
“All suspect drones will be destroyed, when necessary and possible,” Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said earlier this week, expanding on previous statements that the incidents involved “[semi-]professional drones flying for information”.
While it is unclear where the drones originate from, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius seemingly pointed the finger at Moscow.
Pistorius sees the drone incursions as an attempt to intimidate Belgium in the dispute over frozen Russian state assets, though he did not name Moscow itself as the actor behind the incidents.
Belgium is home to Euroclear, a clearing house holding immobilised Russian assets, which play a central role in discussions of a €140 billion ‘reparations loan’ to support Ukraine’s war effort and reconstruction.
Russia is a “plausible suspect,” Francken said on Saturday, adding the security services are looking into all options.
The minister has met with NATO chief Mark Rutte this week and spoke to the EU’s Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, who offered the Commission’s assistance – though it is not clear what form immediate support of the EU executive could take.
(vib)
