On the morning of November 5, 2025, a stark new sign appeared just outside the perimeter of Brussels International Airport in Zaventem, Belgium: "No drones." It was a warning born of necessity after a week that saw two of Belgium’s busiest airports—Brussels and Liege—brought to a standstill by a series of mysterious drone incursions. The disruptions, which forced the temporary closure of both airports, have not only inconvenienced thousands of travelers but also triggered alarm bells across Europe about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to emerging technological threats.
The gravity of the situation became unmistakable after a string of unidentified drone flights were reported near a U.S. military base in Belgium, a site known for housing nuclear weapons. The incidents, which Belgian authorities say could not have been carried out by "amateurs," have raised serious questions about espionage and the evolving nature of hybrid warfare in Europe. As the week drew to a close, the United Kingdom stepped in, deploying military personnel and advanced anti-drone equipment to Belgium at the request of its NATO ally.
Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton, the head of Britain’s armed forces, told the BBC on November 9, "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 did not specify the exact nature of the equipment or the number of personnel dispatched, but the move underscores the seriousness with which the UK and its European partners are treating the threat.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey echoed this sentiment, stating, "As hybrid threats grow, our strength lies in our alliances and our collective resolve to defend, deter and protect our critical infrastructure and airspace." According to the Associated Press, a team of Royal Air Force specialists has been sent to Belgium specifically to counter rogue drone activity, marking a rare instance of direct military-to-military assistance between NATO members in response to a non-traditional security threat.
The disruptions caused by the drone sightings have not been limited to Belgium. In the same week, Sweden also experienced temporary airport closures due to similar incidents, as reported by multiple European news outlets. Since September, drone sightings have been recorded near civilian airports and military facilities in Denmark, Germany, and Norway. In Poland, NATO forces even shot down drones violating the country’s airspace during a Russian aerial attack on neighboring Ukraine. This pattern has fueled speculation about the broader use of drones as tools of hybrid warfare across the continent.
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken was unequivocal in his assessment. He told Belgian media, "I believe that some incidents were part of a spying operation that could not have been done by amateurs." While Russia has been blamed for similar incidents elsewhere in Europe, Belgian authorities have stopped short of attributing responsibility for the latest wave of drone incursions. Russia, for its part, has denied any involvement, and no direct evidence has surfaced to link Moscow to the Belgian incidents.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has described the incursions as "hybrid warfare," a term that captures the blend of conventional and unconventional tactics—such as cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and now drone incursions—used to destabilize and divide European societies. "It is clear Russia’s aim is to sow division in Europe," von der Leyen said, though she did not directly accuse Russia of orchestrating the recent Belgian drone flights.
The stakes for Belgium are particularly high. The country is home to the headquarters of both NATO and the European Union, making it a symbolic and strategic target. Additionally, Belgium hosts Europe’s largest financial clearinghouse, which holds tens of billions of euros in frozen Russian assets. Many EU countries are pushing to use these assets as collateral to provide loans to Ukraine, but Belgium has so far resisted, highlighting the complex geopolitical and financial dimensions at play.
The Belgian government responded to the drone threat by convening an emergency meeting to discuss measures for protecting sensitive airspace. According to the BBC and the Associated Press, authorities are considering a range of countermeasures, including the deployment of advanced radar systems and electronic jammers capable of disabling unauthorized drones before they can cause further disruptions. While the specifics of the UK’s contribution remain undisclosed, experts suggest that the British military’s counter-drone technology could prove pivotal in enhancing Belgium’s ability to detect and neutralize threats in real time.
The recent spate of drone incidents is part of a broader trend that has emerged since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Drones, once the exclusive domain of militaries, have become increasingly accessible and sophisticated, blurring the lines between civilian and military uses. Their deployment for surveillance, disruption, and even direct attacks has become a hallmark of modern hybrid warfare, raising urgent questions about the adequacy of existing security protocols at airports and other critical sites.
Travelers passing through affected airports have been urged to stay informed about possible delays and cancellations. As of November 10, 2025, Liege Airport had resumed operations after a brief suspension, but authorities warned that the situation remains fluid. "We are working tirelessly to ensure passenger safety and minimize disruption, but the threat is evolving quickly," a spokesperson for the Belgian air traffic control service Skeyes told local media.
For now, the deployment of UK military resources is seen as a crucial step in bolstering Belgium’s defenses against an elusive and technologically advanced adversary. It also serves as a signal to other European nations that collective action is essential in the face of hybrid threats that transcend borders and traditional definitions of warfare. As the use of drones for espionage and disruption becomes more prevalent, the need for robust international cooperation has never been greater.
The coming weeks will be a test of Europe’s resolve and ingenuity in the face of a new kind of security challenge—one that can ground planes, unsettle governments, and potentially tip the balance in ongoing geopolitical struggles. The eyes of the continent, and indeed the world, are now fixed on Belgium as it works with its allies to restore a sense of safety and order to its skies.