Belgium was on high alert even before at least three drones were reportedly seen over a power plant in northern Belgium on Sunday evening. A series of drone sightings has resulted in frequent airport closures in the country, causing travel disruptions for thousands of passengers and grounding flights.
The recent drone incidents in Belgium are part of a broader trend of mysterious drone activities across Europe targeting airports and military locations. Some officials have implicated Russia in these incidents, prompting authorities to enhance their defense measures.
Reports from Belgian media indicate that drones were observed over the Doel nuclear power plant near the Port of Antwerp over the weekend. However, these reports have not been confirmed by CBC News.
Unlike the well-documented Russian drone violations of Polish airspace in September, little is known about the recent drone sightings. These drones have not been intercepted or crashed, leading to a cat-and-mouse situation as they enter restricted airspaces and quickly disappear.
In response to the escalating drone threats, Britain has announced plans to dispatch experts and equipment to assist Belgium in detecting and defending against drones. The closures of Brussels airport and Liège Airport in Belgium due to drone sightings have underscored the need for increased vigilance against such incursions.
In Germany, where drone disruptions led to flight suspensions at Munich airport in October, authorities are establishing rapid-response teams to counter the perceived threat, which has been linked to Russia by the country’s defense minister.
Concerns have been raised that Belgium may be a target due to the debate surrounding the potential use of Russia’s frozen assets to aid Ukraine. This has been viewed as a tactic to sow fear and insecurity in Belgium by discouraging any action regarding the frozen assets.
Russia has dismissed allegations of involvement in the drone incidents, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeling the accusations unfounded. The surge in drone sightings has posed unprecedented challenges, with countries that support Ukraine or are considering doing so experiencing disruptions.
Following previous incidents in Denmark and Poland, European nations have vowed to strengthen their defenses against drone threats. NATO has initiated missions like Eastern Sentry to intensify aerial patrols and enhance surveillance capabilities to detect and respond to drone activities effectively.
Efforts are underway to establish a region-wide “drone wall” in the European Union by 2027 to counter the evolving drone threat. Lessons learned from conflicts like the one in Ukraine highlight the complexities of intercepting large numbers of agile and cost-effective drones, emphasizing the need to prioritize safeguarding critical infrastructure.
Decisions regarding the risks associated with intervention, such as shooting down suspicious drones in urban areas, remain challenging due to the uncertainties involved in such scenarios. The urgency to address these issues underscores the pressing need for coordinated and proactive measures to mitigate drone-related disruptions in Europe.