Belgium was already on high alert before three drones were reportedly seen above a power plant in northern Belgium on Sunday evening. Multiple drone sightings have led to repeated closures of airports in the country, causing travel disruptions and grounding flights. Officials suspect Russia’s involvement in these mysterious drone incidents targeting airports and military sites across Europe, prompting authorities to enhance their defenses.
Reports from Belgian media indicate that drones were spotted over the Doel nuclear power plant near the Port of Antwerp over the weekend. However, these reports are yet to be confirmed. Unlike the Russian drones that breached Polish airspace during the Ukraine conflict, little information is known about the recent drone sightings.
Experts describe the situation as a game of “whack-a-mole” since none of the drones involved have been intercepted or crashed. In response to these incidents, Britain has offered assistance to Belgium to enhance drone detection and defense capabilities.
Authorities in Germany, where drone activity disrupted flights at Munich airport, are forming rapid-response teams to counter the threat, attributing it to Russia. Concerns have been raised that Belgium might be targeted due to debates surrounding the use of Russia’s frozen assets to support Ukraine.
While Russia denies any involvement in launching the drones, the frequency of these sightings has raised alarms. European countries experiencing drone disruptions have shown support for Ukraine or are contemplating doing so, indicating a potential motive behind the incidents. These drone disruptions have prompted officials to strengthen defenses and explore measures to counter the threat effectively.