Europe weighs response to Russian airspace threats

Stéphane Kellenberger, the French public prosecutor in the port of Brest, told Agence France-Presse that two crew members—who presented themselves as the ship's captain and his first mate—had been taken into custody. Kellenberger said an investigation was taking place after the crew's "failure to justify the nationality of the vessel" and "refusal to cooperate".

"No one should be in any doubt that we are facing a level of grayzone activity and aggression which is testing us and testing other countries," he said.

Russia has been accused of conducting numerous violations of European airspace involving drones and warplanes in recent weeks, placing several European countries on high alert. Estonia and Poland requested a consultation with other NATO members last month, after around 20 Russian drones crossed into Poland and Russian MiG-31 jets entered Estonian airspace in a separate incident. Romania, another Nato member, also said a Russian drone had breached its airspace.

To counter the threat, defence ministers from ten EU countries have now agreed to create a "drone wall" in response to the sightings, with Nato officials stating that the alliance has "enhanced vigilance" across the Baltic.

"Europe must be able to defend itself," Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in response to the drone incidents. "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."

"I hope that everybody recognises now that there is a hybrid war and one day it's Poland, the other day it's Denmark, and next week it will probably be somewhere else that we see sabotage or we see drones flying," Frederiksen told reporters.

The increasing number of incidents in European airspace has led EU leaders to view Russia as a major threat to their continent's security following Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. They have responded by increasing efforts to strengthen their defences.

'Readiness Roadmap'

Among the ideas being discussed by EU leaders is the creation of a "Defence Readiness Roadmap," which will outline the ability to defend European countries against further Russian incursions. This would include the construction of a "drone wall",  a network of detection and interception systems that would enhance the anti-drone capabilities of individual EU member states.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, is leading calls for the drone wall to protect Europe's eastern flank.

"Europe must deliver a strong and united response to Russia's drone incursions at our borders, and that is why we will propose immediate actions to create the drone wall," she said.     

Earlier, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that Europe's southern borders should 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.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has also given his backing to the drone wall proposal, saying it was "timely and necessary".

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticised Europe's drone wall concept, remarking that. "As history has shown, erecting walls is always a bad thing".

Differing opinions

Differences of opinion, though, have emerged among some European leaders over the best way to proceed in developing their defences against any future Russian incursions.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius cautioned that developing a drone wall could take at least three or four years, while Macron urged the EU to proceed with caution to avoid provoking a hostile response from Moscow.

"I think we all have to be very cautious because we are in a time of confrontation with a lot of hybridity," Macron said. "We have to be strong to deter any aggression, but we have to remain very cautious and avoid any escalation," he added.

Meloni also warned against overreacting. "Despite everything, I think we have to think calmly. I think we shouldn't respond to provocations. We have to equip ourselves; that certainly is true," she said.

Nevertheless, despite these reservations, the EU is now committed to investing heavily in defending its airspace—a move that will likely exacerbate the already deepening tensions between Russia and the West.