BRUSSELS (AP) — Representatives from several European countries sharing borders with Russia and Ukraine convened on Friday to discuss the establishment of a "drone wall" aimed at strengthening their defenses against increasing airspace violations. This initiative includes Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, which have collaborated on the drone wall project. However, a joint request for funds from Estonia and Lithuania was declined by the European Union's executive branch earlier in March.
In recent months, the borders of these European nations have faced significant challenges from unauthorized drone activities, with Russia often being held accountable for many of these incidents. Nevertheless, Russia has denied any intention of wrongdoing or involvement in these events. Notably, NATO jets were activated on September 10 to intercept multiple Russian drones that had encroached upon Polish airspace, marking a costly military response to a relatively inexpensive threat. Additionally, drone sightings near Danish airports led to the temporary closure of operations, emphasizing the growing concern regarding aerial security.
Andrius Kubilius, the EU Defense Commissioner, chaired the discussions on Friday through a video link, which also included officials from Bulgaria, Denmark, Romania, and Slovakia, as well as representatives from Ukraine and NATO. The primary objectives of the meeting were to assess the existing equipment available for drone defense among the participating countries, identify any additional needs to cover vulnerabilities along NATO’s eastern perimeter, and determine potential EU funding sources to support these efforts.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the urgency of forming a drone defense network, stating that there is a pressing need to heed the concerns of the Baltic nations. She emphasized that this initiative is not just a vague goal but a fundamental component of credible defense. Von der Leyen articulated that the plan should entail "a European capability developed together, deployed together, and sustained together," ensuring effective real-time responses to aerial threats. She reiterated the commitment that Europe will defend every inch of its territory, reflecting a united stance against security challenges.
Furthermore, von der Leyen announced that a substantial budget of 6 billion euros (approximately $7 billion) would be allocated to initiate a drone alliance with Ukraine. This alliance comes at a strategic time, as Ukrainian forces have been effectively utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles to inflict significant losses on Russian military equipment. Reports indicate that these drones are responsible for approximately two-thirds of the total equipment losses suffered by Russian forces during the ongoing conflict.
