The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed moving forward with the implementation of an anti-drone wall as part of the continental strategy to confront the growing hybrid war driven by Russia. During her speech at the European Parliament, the community leader warned that the recent drone attacks are not isolated incidents, but part of "a calculated campaign to destabilize the European Union and weaken its support for Ukraine."
Von der Leyen indicated that the project—called Eastern Sentinel—is designed to protect the eastern flank of the bloc, although she supported the position of southern countries such as Spain, Italy, and Greece, which are calling for it to be extended to their borders to respond to threats such as illegal migration or natural disasters. "We must build an affordable, fast, and effective system, capable of detecting, intercepting, and neutralizing threats in the air," she stated.
A European shield against hybrid war
The President of the European Commission maintained that the Russian strategy combines drone attacks, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, disinformation campaigns, and sabotage of undersea cables. "It's time to call it by its name: this is a hybrid war and we must take it seriously," Von der Leyen emphasized.
The anti-drone wall will be part of the European plan to shield the airspace and protect sensitive infrastructure, in a context in which several member countries have reported violations of their sovereignty by unauthorized incursions. The initiative also seeks to strengthen technological and military cooperation within the EU, consolidating a more robust common defense policy.
