The UK is deploying Royal Air Force specialists and military equipment to Belgium following a series of disruptive drone sightings near airports and military bases. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton announced the deployment on the BBC's Sunday Morning With Laura Kuenssberg programme, confirming that British personnel have already begun arriving in Belgium.
The decision came after Belgium's Chief of Defence Staff requested urgent assistance this week. Defence Secretary John Healey approved the deployment on Friday. «The Defence Secretary (John Healey) and I agreed at the end of last week that we would deploy our people, our equipment to Belgium to help them,» Knighton said.
Unidentified drones forced Brussels Airport to close temporarily on Thursday night. Air traffic was also suspended at Liege Airport on Tuesday. The incidents affected thousands of passengers, with Brussels Airlines reporting considerable costs from cancelled and diverted flights. Drone sightings also occurred near a Belgian military base that stores US nuclear weapons.
Unknown Origin
The source of the drones remains unclear. «It is important to be clear, though, that we don't know - and the Belgians don't yet know - the source of those drones, but we will help them by providing our kit and capability, which has already started to deploy to help Belgium,» Knighton told the BBC. Russia has been suggested as a possible culprit, though the Kremlin has denied any involvement.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius linked the incidents to tensions over frozen Russian assets held in Belgium. The EU is considering using these funds as collateral for loans to Ukraine, a proposal Belgium has opposed.
Healey emphasized NATO solidarity. «When our NATO allies call, we step up,» the Defence Secretary said. «As hybrid threats grow, our strength lies in our alliances and our collective resolve to defend, deter and protect our critical infrastructure and airspace.» Germany and France have also sent specialist assistance to Belgium.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
