UK military help Belgium combat suspected Russian drone flights
The new chief of Britain’s armed forces has announced that the UK will send military support, including RAF experts, to Belgium over suspected drone attacks on Russian airspace.
In a decision taken by Defense Minister John Healey, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton and the Chief of the General Staff, personnel and equipment were on their way after his Belgian counterpart requested assistance earlier this week.
Belgium’s main airport in Zaventem was temporarily closed on Thursday night after drones were detected nearby and also at military bases; Approximately 3,000 Brussels Airlines passengers were affected, as dozens of flights were canceled or diverted.
Sir Richard said it was “plausible” that the attacks were carried out by Russia, after both Belgian security services and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said they suspected the same thing, but it is not yet known who ordered them.
Sir Richard told the BBC’s Sunday Morning with Laura Kuenssberg: “I spoke to my Belgian counterpart during the week and he asked if we would be prepared to support them and the Secretary of State for Defense and I agreed at the end of last week to send our people and equipment to Belgium to help them.
“But it is important to be clear that we do not know – and the Belgians do not yet know the source of these drones – but we will assist them by providing our kit and capability, which has already begun to be deployed to assist Belgium.”
Other NATO allies also support Belgium, and the German defense ministry announced on Friday it would take anti-drone measures following the country’s request for assistance.
When told that the British military was currently helping a European country defend itself against suspected Russian attacks, Sir Richard said: “We don’t know if these are Russian attacks, but they have these drones interfering with their airspace and they have been seen over their military bases.
“And the UK will work alongside our other 31 allies in NATO to support each other, and that is why the Secretary of State for Defense and I are delighted to see UK military personnel deployed to support Belgium.”
But the armed forces chief described Russia as “currently the most urgent threat” to Europe, saying: “The illegal invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the barbaric nature of Russia’s war effort.”
“We” warned [The UK] We need to fortify ourselves against so-called hybrid warfare amid Moscow’s sabotage and murder in Britain.
A number of drone sightings in recent months have led to major travel disruptions across Europe; Some officials accused Russia of “hybrid warfare”, but the Kremlin denied any involvement. The suspicions stem from Moscow’s more serious airspace incursions into Eastern Europe in recent months.
In response to the attacks, Britain recently sent RAF Typhoon jets to take part in NATO air defense missions over Poland as part of efforts to strengthen Europe’s security.
