European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that at an informal EU summit tomorrow, she will discuss plans to establish a “drone wall” in response to increased Russian drone activity. She highlighted the need to strengthen the defense industry and boost military aid to Ukraine.
The upcoming summit will focus on countermeasures against the surge in Russian drone operations observed this month. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will also attend the meeting.
In a joint statement with Rutte ahead of the summit, von der Leyen stressed the importance of Europe’s security and closer NATO cooperation. “We need interoperable capabilities with NATO. To achieve this, joint procurement efforts must be enhanced,” she said.
Von der Leyen also emphasized the urgency of advancing defense projects in Eastern Europe. “Europe must provide a strong and unified response to drone attacks near our borders. Therefore, we plan to take immediate steps to establish a drone wall as part of the Eastern flank,” she stated.
She further highlighted the importance of a knowledgeable, resilient, and technologically capable European defense industry. On military aid to Ukraine, von der Leyen confirmed that €2 billion will be allocated specifically for drone systems.
The informal EU summit in Copenhagen will prepare a “scope definition report,” with a full draft detailing NATO cooperation expected within two weeks.
Rutte referred to recent airspace violations in Poland, Romania, and Estonia, as well as unidentified drones spotted over critical sites in Denmark, noting: “We must protect our skies. The drone wall initiative is both timely and necessary.”
