Late last week, a series of unauthorized drone incursions over Belgian territory sent ripples through Europe’s security community, prompting an urgent response from the United Kingdom and its NATO allies. The UK, acting swiftly after a formal request from Belgium, has begun deploying military personnel and specialized equipment to bolster Belgian defenses against the growing aerial threat. This move, confirmed on November 9, 2025, underscores the rising anxiety over hybrid warfare tactics and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure across the continent.
The drama began to unfold when drones were sighted near key Belgian sites, including Brussels Airport and military bases. According to the BBC, the most disruptive incident occurred on Thursday night, November 6, when Brussels Airport in Zaventem was forced to temporarily suspend operations. The impact on travelers was immediate and severe: around 3,000 Brussels Airlines passengers faced cancellations or diversions, with the airline reporting “considerable costs” from the disruption. Similar drone sightings were reported earlier that week near Liège Airport and a Belgian military installation, further escalating concerns.
The situation took an even more alarming turn on Sunday, November 9, when three drones were observed flying above the Doel Nuclear Power Plant near Antwerp. As reported by Deutsche Welle, the energy company Engie, which operates the plant, confirmed the incident but emphasized that safety protocols and operations were unaffected. Still, the mere presence of drones over such a sensitive facility sent a clear message: Belgian airspace was under a new kind of threat.
Belgium’s response was swift and resolute. Chief of Defense Frederik Vansina authorized Belgian armed forces to engage and neutralize any unidentified drones detected over military installations. Defense Minister Theo Francken, speaking to Politico, expressed gratitude to the UK for dispatching an anti-drone team, noting that “at first, drones flying over our military bases were seen as our problem. Now it has become a serious threat affecting civilian infrastructure across multiple European countries.”
Against this tense backdrop, the UK stepped in to support its NATO ally. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the UK’s Chief of Defense Staff, confirmed the deployment. “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 told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme. He stressed the importance of alliances, 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.”
Specialist units from the Royal Air Force’s 2 Force Protection Wing, renowned for their expertise in counter-drone systems, are expected to play a central role in the operation. The UK’s rapid response was echoed by similar commitments from Germany and France, both of which announced plans to provide anti-drone support to Belgium. The German Defence Ministry’s pledge came on Friday, following Brussels’ request for additional help.
What’s driving these incursions? While the source of the drones remains officially unconfirmed, suspicion has inevitably fallen on Russia. Both Belgian security services and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius have pointed to Moscow as a likely culprit, though, as Francken acknowledged, “there is no accompanying evidence.” Sir Richard Knighton echoed that uncertainty, saying, “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.”
Nevertheless, the broader context is hard to ignore. According to Politico and the BBC, European security officials have characterized the drone activity as part of a hybrid warfare campaign linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These tactics—combining cyberattacks, sabotage, and now aerial incursions—are seen as efforts to destabilize NATO allies and test the resilience of European defenses. The Kremlin, for its part, has consistently denied any involvement, dismissing accusations of hybrid warfare as unfounded.
The recent incidents in Belgium are not isolated. In the past few months, drone sightings have disrupted flights and operations in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Poland, and Estonia. NATO and the European Union responded in October by stepping up efforts to strengthen anti-drone defenses, especially along the alliance’s eastern flank. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently confirmed that the alliance is “testing integrated systems to detect, track, and neutralize aerial threats,” underscoring the seriousness with which these incursions are being treated.
For Belgium, the stakes are high. The disruption of commercial air travel and the threat to nuclear facilities highlight the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. The economic costs are mounting, with airlines and airports bearing the brunt of the chaos. The psychological impact—on both the public and policymakers—is equally significant, fueling calls for greater investment in airspace security and more robust international cooperation.
The UK’s commitment to NATO’s collective defense principle is clear. Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized that, “the UK would help Belgium by providing our kit and capability,” which was already being deployed. The UK has also contributed RAF Typhoon jets to NATO’s air defense missions over Poland, part of a broader effort to bolster the alliance’s eastern defenses in response to recent Russian airspace incursions involving fighter jets and larger attack drones.
Not everyone is satisfied with the pace of the response. James Cartlidge, the shadow defence secretary, welcomed the UK’s support for Belgium but criticized the government’s approach to increasing defense spending, arguing that “more urgency was needed.” The government, for its part, announced earlier this year that defense spending would rise to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027, with an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament. Sir Richard Knighton, however, described the current funding as “more than I’ve ever known in my career.”
As the UK, Belgium, and their allies work to counter the immediate threat, the underlying challenge remains: how to defend Europe’s open skies against an evolving arsenal of hybrid tactics. The recent drone incursions have laid bare the continent’s vulnerabilities but also galvanized a collective response. With NATO allies standing shoulder to shoulder, the message is clear—Europe’s critical infrastructure will not be left undefended.
For now, the skies above Belgium are a little more secure, but the specter of hybrid warfare ensures vigilance remains the order of the day.
