Debate Over Building a Drone Defense Barrier Stalls
Flight operations at Munich Airport in Germany were suspended for a second consecutive day following reports of unidentified drones appearing over the airport.
According to ARD and other broadcasters, Munich Airport closed all runways at 9:36 p.m. local time on the 3rd. Federal police stated that they saw two drones, but both disappeared before their identities could be confirmed.
The airport announced that flight operations would gradually resume from 7 a.m. on the 4th, but delays throughout the day would be unavoidable.
Due to the airport closure, 23 flights scheduled to arrive in Munich were diverted to other airports, and 12 flights were canceled. On the departure side, 46 flights were canceled, affecting more than 6,300 passengers.
Munich Airport is the second largest airport in Germany after Frankfurt. The airport had also suspended operations on the night of the 2nd following another drone sighting report.
The European Union strictly prohibits drone flights near key infrastructure such as airports and military bases. However, since Poland shot down a Russian drone last month, there have been a series of reports of suspicious drones and airport closures across Europe.
At the end of last month, five airports in Denmark-including Copenhagen, Aalborg, and Billund-as well as Oslo Airport in Norway, were temporarily closed. The day before, a drone sighting was reported at Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague, Czech Republic.
The EU, suspecting Russian "hybrid operations," is discussing building a drone defense barrier using radar and interception equipment. However, except for member states bordering Russia, such as the Baltic states, there is little enthusiasm for allocating EU funds specifically to block Russian drones.
On the 1st, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis argued at the European Council meeting that the benefits of the European defense project should extend to the entire EU, not just eastern countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated, "There is no perfect barrier in Europe. Do you think it is possible to perfectly defend the 3,000-kilometer border between Russia and the EU? The answer is 'No.'"
Russia dismissed the situation as European hysteria and a ploy to stoke public anxiety and increase defense spending. Russian President Vladimir Putin mocked Europe's claims by comparing them to UFO sightings and sarcastically said he would not send any more drones.
Analysts in Europe believe that Russia is testing Europe's response posture and seeking to exploit internal divisions within the region.
Politico Europe reported that "the European Commission's drone defense barrier plan is already showing signs of cracks even before the first drone is intercepted," noting concerns not only about feasibility and cost but also about the EU potentially seeking to take control of member states' defense policies.
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