Belgian Defense Minister Warns of Espionage Drones Near Military Bases
Recent weekends in Belgium have been marked by the appearance of suspicious unmanned aerial vehicles near national military facilities, raising concerns among the country’s defense authorities.
Defense Minister Theo Francken officially announced that these drones, spotted over key military installations, were likely used for intelligence gathering on the positions of F-16 fighters and ammunition depots.
According to him, these devices were intended for surveillance and collecting strategically important information, which could pose a serious threat to national security.Although the Belgian government has not directly blamed Russia for the recent incidents, Francken hinted that the likely perpetrators are not excluded from military and intelligence circles.
He pointed out that the Russians are attempting to conduct such activities across various European countries, and while he cannot confirm this definitively, the motives and methods are generally understood.
The minister emphasized that modern warfare has become increasingly digital, with drones playing an integral role, prompting the Belgian Defense Ministry to prepare seriously for potential new threats, including a €50 million plan to develop a counter-drone system.The background of the current tensions stems from an incident on November 2 at the Kleine-Brogel military base in the east of the country, where suspicious drones were observed for the first time.
Following this, Belgian authorities initiated an investigation, which revealed several instances of unidentified unmanned aircraft over the Walloon region.
These incidents highlight the growing reality of global digital challenges and have called into question the security of Belgium’s military resources.Minister Francken also issued strong statements regarding potential hostile actions in the region, emphasizing NATO’s readiness to respond to any aggression and eliminate potential aggressors.
His remarks underscored the need to strengthen national defense capacity and coordinate with allies to prevent similar incidents in the future.