EU leaders back ‘drone wall’ to repel Russia after airspace violations

European Union leaders backed plans on Wednesday to bolster the bloc’s defences against Russian drones as they met in Copenhagen days after airspace intrusions by unmanned aircraft rattled Denmark. European authorities have accused Russia of brazen violations of the region’s airspace, including with recent incursions by drones over Poland and fighter planes over Estonia. “Europe must be able to defend itself,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said after the EU summit. “We need to strengthen our production of drones, of anti-drone capabilities, and this includes building up a European network of anti-drone measures that can protect and, of course, also neutralise intrusion from outside.” The incidents in Europe’s airspace highlighted how EU leaders have come to view Russia as a major threat to their continent’s security following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and have accelerated efforts to strengthen their defences. Denmark has stopped short of saying who it believes is responsible for the incidents in its own airspace last week, which disrupted air traffic at multiple airports, but Frederiksen has suggested it could be Moscow. US President Donald Trump has long demanded that Europe take more responsibility for its own security and for Ukraine. “Russia tries to test us. But Russia also tries to sow division and anxiety in our societies. We will not let this happen,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said. The summit’s security was bolstered by troops and anti-drone systems sent by other European countries. And all drone flights over the country have been banned until Friday. Von der Leyen called last month for what she described as a drone wall – a network of sensors and weapons to detect, track and neutralise intruding unmanned aircraft – to protect Europe’s eastern flank. Her suggestion came just hours after some 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, although officials say it had already been under consideration. The incursion into Poland exposed gaps in Europe’s ability to defend against drones, officials and analysts said. Nato forces deployed fighter planes, helicopters and a Patriot air defence system in their response, shooting down several drones. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte this week praised the drone wall idea as “timely and necessary”, and EU leaders voiced support in Copenhagen on Wednesday. “Russia will continue and we have to be ready, we have to strengthen our preparedness,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said. The commission, the EU’s executive body, has not yet produced a detailed plan for the drone wall, leaving open questions about the cost and practicalities. Von der Leyen said Europe’s eastern flank would be a priority, due to its proximity to Russia, but that the “drone wall” would be conceived as a shield for the entire continent. Earlier, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Europe’s southern borders should also not be neglected amid the focus on the EU’s eastern flank, while French President Emmanuel Macron called for a comprehensive approach to the drone threat. “In reality, we need advanced early-warning systems to better anticipate threats,” he told reporters, also stressing the importance of deterrence through long-range strike capabilities. Russia has denied responsibility for the drones over Denmark, disputed that its fighter planes entered Estonian airspace and said it did not intend to send drones into Poland. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticised Europe’s talk of a drone wall. “As history has shown, erecting walls is always a bad thing,” he said on Tuesday. Meanwhile, France has detained two senior crew members of a tanker linked to Russia, which data showed was off the Danish coast last month during the mysterious drone flights, prosecutors said on Wednesday. The Boracay, a Benin-flagged vessel blacklisted by the European Union for being part of Russia’s sanction-busting “shadow fleet” of ageing oil tankers, was stationed off Denmark from September 22 to 25, according to ship tracking data analysed by Agence France-Presse. French military personnel were on Wednesday on the deck of the tanker, now stationed off the coast of western France. Macron said France was probing the ship for “serious offences”. But he stopped short of confirming reports of a connection to the Denmark drone flights. Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse

EU leaders back ‘drone wall’ to repel Russia after airspace violations

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}France detains Russian-linked tanker crew as recent intrusions by drones and fighter planes fuel security concerns

France detains Russian-linked tanker crew as recent intrusions by drones and fighter planes fuel security concerns