UK military personnel and equipment are being sent to Belgium to help it bolster its defenses after drone incursions on its airspace, suspected of being carried out by Russia.
The new head of the UK military, Sir Richard Knighton, told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that his Belgian counterpart asked for assistance earlier this week and that kit and personnel were on the way.
Belgium's main airport Zavantem was forced to close temporarily on Thursday night after drones were spotted nearby. They were also spotted in other locations, including a military base.
Sir Richard said it was not known if the incursions were by Russia, but added it was plausible they had been ordered by Moscow.
He added that the decision to aid Belgium had been made alongside Defence Secretary John Healey.
Alongside NATO allies, he stated that the UK would help Belgium by providing our kit and capability which he said was already being deployed. On Friday, the German defense ministry announced support for Belgium with anti-drone measures after a request from Brussels.
About 3,000 Brussels Airlines passengers were affected by the disruption, and the carrier said it faced considerable costs from canceling or diverting dozens of flights.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and the Belgian security services have indicated that they suspect Russia, though Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken admitted that there is no conclusive evidence.
Francken noted that drones flying over military bases were initially perceived as an internal issue but have evolved into a serious threat impacting civilian infrastructure across multiple European nations.
Sir Richard further described Russia as the most pressing threat right now to Europe, citing the illegal invasion of Ukraine and the aggressive tactics employed by Moscow.
In recent months, drone sightings have caused significant flight disruptions across Europe, prompting investigations and responses from various governments. Despite suspicions of Russian involvement, the Kremlin has denied any wrongdoing in these incidents.
The UK's proactive stance includes deployments of RAF Typhoon jets to defend its eastern flank as part of NATO's measures in response to ongoing security threats.
