European Union leaders have endorsed plans to establish a continent-wide defence network against Russian drones after recent airspace violations rattled Denmark and exposed Europe’s vulnerabilities.
Meeting in Copenhagen on Wednesday, leaders signalled their support for a “drone wall” across the bloc, an initiative championed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and welcomed by NATO.
"Europe must be able to defend itself", Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.
"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."
European officials have accused Moscow of brazenly testing the continent’s air defences, pointing to recent drone incursions over Poland and fighter jet flights over Estonia.
Denmark has not formally attributed last week’s drone activity that disrupted several airports, but Frederiksen has hinted Russia was behind the episodes.
Von der Leyen first floated the idea of a “drone wall” last month, just hours after around 20 Russian drones breached Polish airspace.
NATO forces responded by deploying fighter jets, helicopters and a Patriot system, downing several aircraft, but the incident underscored gaps in Europe’s defences.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the proposal as “timely and necessary”, a sentiment echoed by EU leaders in Copenhagen.
Von der Leyen said the eastern flank would be the immediate focus given its proximity to Russia, but stressed the system would be designed as a shield for the entire continent.
The initiative reflects growing concern across Europe that Russia’s war in Ukraine is spilling further into neighbouring countries, fuelling urgency to harden air defences against new forms of aggression.
