European defence ministers have agreed to develop a drone wall along their borders with Russia and Ukraine to better detect, track, and intercept drones violating Europe’s airspace. The decision comes after a spate of incidents in which Europe’s borders and airports have been tested by rogue drones. Russia has been blamed for some of these incidents but denies any intentional involvement or that it played a role.
“Russia is testing the EU and NATO, and our response must be firm, united, and immediate,” EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said after chairing a virtual meeting of 10 countries on Europe’s eastern flank. Ukrainian and NATO officials also took part in the talks.
Kubilius noted that the drone shield could take about a year to build. Envoys from the participating countries will meet soon to develop a detailed conceptual and technical roadmap outlining the way ahead. He emphasized that the top priority was establishing an effective detection system.
The drone wall is likely to be discussed by EU leaders at a summit in Copenhagen next week, and again in October when they meet in Brussels. Kubilius mentioned that Europe’s defence industry would also be brought onboard to support the project.
“The hybrid war is ongoing and all countries in the European Union will experience it. The threat from the Russian Federation is serious. We must respond to it in a very radical manner,” Polish Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said after the meeting. “Today’s meeting was a milestone; now we focus on delivery,” he added.
However, the situation has intensified this month. On September 10, NATO jets scrambled to shoot down a number of Russian drones that breached Polish airspace—an expensive response to a relatively inexpensive threat. Meanwhile, airports in Denmark were temporarily closed this week after drones were flown nearby.
Kosiniak-Kamysz warned EU partners to get involved in the project, stressing that recent incidents at Danish airports demonstrated that the threat extends beyond the eastern flank. He noted that the launch of drones may occur from ships or vessels positioned nearby, making the threat highly mobile.
In a social media post on Thursday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen addressed the nation, describing the drone incidents as part of a new reality facing Europe where hybrid attacks are fiercer and more frequent. Although Danish authorities have not yet determined who was behind the attacks, she identified Russia as the primary threat to European security at present.
Neighboring Sweden has offered to loan Denmark a military anti-drone system ahead of the summits involving dozens of EU leaders in Copenhagen next week. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told broadcaster TV4 that the system has the capability to shoot down drones. It is not yet clear whether Denmark has accepted the offer.
The 27 EU leaders will meet on Wednesday, with the drone security threat expected to be high on their agenda. They will be joined by more than a dozen other leaders for a European Political Community summit on Thursday.
Earlier this month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged Europe to heed the call of its Baltic friends and build a drone wall. “This is not an abstract ambition. It is the bedrock of credible defence,” she told EU politicians.
Von der Leyen emphasized that the capability should be European — developed together, deployed together, and sustained together — with the ability to respond in real time. “One that leaves no ambiguity as to our intentions. Europe will defend every inch of its territory,” she said.
Additionally, six billion euros (€5.2 billion) will be earmarked to set up a drone alliance with Ukraine, whose armed forces are using unmanned aerial vehicles to inflict around two-thirds of all military equipment losses sustained by Russian forces.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/european-defence-ministers-agree-to-develop-drone-wall-1811434.html