UK, France and Germany to help Belgium fight back against drones
The Belgian government has asked for help from Allies to strengthen its countermeasures against unmanned aerial vehicles, which have reappeared near important targets in the country. Three NATO member states have responded: Belgium will receive operational personnel and equipment from the UK, France and Germany.
Details
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken thanked the UK for sending the special team, following similar signals from Paris and Berlin.
It is planned to launch the National Air Safety Centre of Belgium by 1 January 2026.
Berlin noted that the threat of drones could be linked to the discussion of the use of frozen Russian assets, most of which are held in the Belgian bank Euroclear.
Last week, flights at Liege Airport and Brussels Airport were temporarily suspended due to the appearance of drones.
Belgian intelligence services believe that a foreign state, most likely Russia, is behind the series of incidents.
What it means
This initiative demonstrates the growing concern of the EU and NATO about drone threats on their territory. Increased cooperation in the field of air defence and counter-drone operations shows that even countries with developed infrastructure are vulnerable - especially when it comes to strategically important facilities or the financial sector.
For Ukraine, which is facing similar threats, Belgium's decision can serve as an example of rapid mobilisation of partner resources, both in terms of technical and human resources.
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