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Belgium Probes Repeated Drone Flights Over NATO-Used Kleine-Brogel Base

Authorities plan a joint review after detection alerts at the sensitive site, following unsuccessful efforts to stop the flights.

Overview

  • Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken reported multiple high-altitude drones over Kleine-Brogel across the weekend and said the aircraft appeared deliberately aimed at the base.
  • An electronic jammer failed to disrupt a drone, and a helicopter with police vehicles pursued it for several kilometres before losing contact.
  • Investigations are ongoing, with a meeting set between defence officials and police to analyze the threat and seek to identify and arrest the operators.
  • NATO directed questions to Belgian authorities, and a separate drone was reported over Antwerp airport on Saturday evening, according to police.
  • The base recently hosted part of a NATO nuclear-related exercise; reports of U.S. nuclear weapons at the site remain unconfirmed, and no public attribution for the latest flights has been made.