UK Military Deploys Support to Belgium Amid Suspicion of Drone Threats

Sun Nov 09 2025 14:43:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Belgium faces drone incursions suspected to be linked to Russia, the UK military is stepping in to enhance the country's defenses. This decision follows a request for assistance from Belgian authorities.

The UK military is sending personnel and equipment to Belgium to counter recent drone incursions, which have raised concerns of potential Russian involvement. The Belgian Defense Minister has acknowledged that the situation has escalated, affecting civilian infrastructure across Europe. The UK and its NATO allies remain committed to bolstering defense measures in response to this growing threat.

The UK military is deploying personnel and equipment to Belgium to assist in bolstering defenses against a series of drone incursions that have raised suspicions of a Russian connection. The decision, confirmed by the new head of the UK military, Sir Richard Knighton, follows a request from Belgian defense authorities for support.

Belgium's Zavantem Airport faced temporary closure on Thursday night due to drone sightings, which have also occurred near military installations. Sir Richard Knighton indicated that while it remains unproven whether these incursions are indeed Russian, it is 'plausible' they may have originated from Moscow.

The UK’s assistance was coordinated with Defence Secretary John Healey, with assurances that resources were already on their way. Germany's Defense Ministry announced its support for Belgium with anti-drone measures following similar requests. About 3,000 Brussels Airlines passengers were impacted by the airport disruptions, causing considerable operational costs for the airline.

While Belgian officials suspect Russian involvement, there is currently no direct evidence linking the drones to the Kremlin. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken stated that the initial problem of drones near military bases has transformed into a significant issue that now threatens civilian infrastructures across multiple European nations.

Sir Richard also highlighted that Russia represents the most pressing threat to Europe, citing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as indicative of the Kremlin's 'barbaric' tactics. He emphasized the importance of addressing hybrid warfare strategies and ensuring the UK can effectively defend against such threats.

With recent drone sightings leading to significant travel disruptions throughout Europe, officials maintain that the incidents may be tied to geopolitical tensions, including discussions within the European Union regarding the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.