Drone flights near airbase could be spying operation, Belgium's defence minister says

Belgium's Defence Minister Theo Francken expressed concern on Monday about a series of unidentified drone flights at the weekend near a military base where US nuclear weapons are stored, saying that they seem to be part of a spying operation.

Francken confirmed that drones had flown into the area near the Kleine Brogel air base in northeast Belgium in two phases on Saturday and Sunday night.

The first phase involved "small drones to test the radio frequencies" of Belgian security services, then later came "big drones to destabilize the area and people," Francken told public broadcaster RTBF.

"It resembles a spy operation. By whom, I don't know. I have a few ideas but I'm going to be careful (about speculating)," he said.

Francken ruled out the possibility that the weekend drone flights were a prank.

He said that the security services’ "jammer didn't work because they tested our radio frequency and they changed frequency. They have their own frequencies. An amateur doesn't know how to do that."

Asked why it was not possible to shoot the drones down, Francken said: "When they're over a military base we can shoot the drones down. When it’s nearby, we have to be very careful because they can fall on a house, a car, a person. That's completely different."

This can pose legal challenges too. "It's not entirely clear. We have to clarify the legal grounds," he said.

Francken lamented that Belgium "is chasing after the threat" posed by such drone flights. "We should have bought air defence systems five or 10 years ago," that can deal with drones, he said.

Last month, several drones were detected above another Belgian military base near the German border. The operators were not identified.

On high alert

Both NATO and the European Union have been on high alert following a string of airspace violations, thought to be from Russia, in recent weeks.

NATO issued a warning to Moscow at the end of September, saying it would use all means to defend against any further breaches of its airspace after the downing of Russian drones over Poland and Estonia's report of an intrusion by Russian fighter jets.

The 10 September incident in Poland was the first direct encounter between NATO and Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022.

Estonia said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes on Friday without authorisation, a charge that the Kremlin has rejected.

The incidents caused widespread consternation among leaders across Europe, raising questions about the alliance's preparedness against growing Russian aggression.

"Russia should be in no doubt: NATO and Allies will employ, in accordance with international law, all necessary military and non-military tools to defend ourselves and deter all threats from all directions," the alliance said in a statement.

Following the violation of Polish airspace, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the formation of the Eastern Sentry programme, which aims to deter further Russian incursions and show solidarity with Poland.

"We see drones violating our airspace. Whether it was intentional or not, it is unacceptable. The allies have expressed full solidarity with Poland. It is crucial to counter aggression and defend every member of the Alliance," the NATO chief said.

Incidents in Denmark and Norway

Meanwhile on 23 September, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Russian involvement could not be ruled out after Copenhagen airport was forced to close for several hours the previous night following the sighting of a number of drones.

"It says something about the times we live in and what we as a society must be prepared to deal with," Frederiksen said.

The Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the allegations "unfounded".

Also on 22 September, Oslo airport in Norway was closed for three hours after possible drone sightings were reported.

Russia allegedly violated Norway's airspace three times so far this year, according to the government, but it remains unclear whether Monday's incident was deliberate or the result of navigation errors.

"Regardless of the cause, this is not acceptable," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said.