NATO chief, Mark Rutte, stated ahead of a meeting with defense ministers that the military alliance and the European Union are working together to create a “drone wall” to protect member countries from drone incursions.
When asked whether efforts on this issue are being doubled, Rutte said that the EU and NATO have different roles: NATO provides military capabilities, while the EU leverages the soft power of the internal market and ensures funding is available.
The focus of the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels is also expected to include strengthening support for Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is participating in the meeting, while U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering supplying Kyiv with long-range missiles.
The NATO meeting comes after Moscow challenged NATO with a series of airspace violations over Poland and Estonia, increasing fears that the conflict in Ukraine could expand.
There have also been drone detections near military facilities in other countries, prompting authorities to close airports.
These events have heightened concerns that Russia aims to provoke NATO into reacting.
Defense ministers are also expected to focus on efforts to fill gaps on the alliance’s eastern flank, as NATO has been forced to use expensive missiles to shoot down Russian drones that entered Poland.
Following the incidents, NATO launched a mission to strengthen its defenses, but some countries near Russia have called for a stronger response.
The Western military alliance also aims to accelerate the development of counter-drone capabilities and incorporate the free technology that Ukraine uses into its defense systems.
The EU will also hold a meeting with its defense ministers on Wednesday evening. The bloc has proposed creating a “drone wall” to counter threats.
However, there is skepticism among European states, such as Germany, regarding this proposal, and concerns exist that the EU could interfere with NATO’s operations.
The drone initiative is one of the EU’s main projects as part of a broader effort to prepare the bloc for a potential conflict with Moscow in the coming years. EU ministers are expected to receive guidance on the plan, which is hoped to be approved during a leaders’ summit next week.
