(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BRUSSELS, Oct 8 (KUNA) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed on Wednesday that Europe is facing a "hybrid war" targeting its security and unity, calling for "a united and resolute response" based on deterrence.
In her address to the European Parliament's plenary session, dedicated to discussing a united European response to recent Russian violations, von der Leyen said, "Something new and dangerous is happening in our skies," noting that "MiG fighters have violated Estonia's airspace in the past two weeks, while drones have flown over critical sites in Belgium, Poland, Romania, Denmark and Germany."
She added that "flights have been grounded, jets scrambled, and countermeasures deployed to ensure the safety of our citizens," stressing that these actions "are not random harassment but a coordinated and escalating campaign designed to unsettle our citizens, test our resolve, divide our Union, and weaken our support for Ukraine."
"It is time to call it by its name," she said. "This is hybrid warfare, and we have to take it very seriously." She further explained that "this is a deliberate campaign targeting Europe, and Europe must respond."
Von der Leyen stressed that "Russia seeks to sow division, and we must answer with unity," pointing to the contribution of Ukrainian experts who are sharing frontline experience to help EU Member States counter drone incursions.
She underlined that "the founding mission of the European Union has always been to preserve peace, and today that means having the capacity to deter aggression and provocation," emphasizing that "Europe must urgently equip itself with new strategic capabilities to confront the changing nature of warfare."
Von der Leyen noted that "the Union is currently witnessing the biggest surge in defense spending in its history," explaining that "the Readiness 2030 plan will mobilize up to 800 billion euros by that date."
She added, "We need a precise European plan, closely coordinated with NATO," revealing that the Commission will present in two weeks a roadmap entitled "Preserving Peace - Readiness 2030" outlining common goals and clear timelines through 2030.
The Commission President explained that current priorities focus on addressing airspace violations through major projects such as the Eastern Flank Watch and the Drone Wall, which she described as "a realistic response to the realities of modern warfare."
"In Poland, we had to deploy very expensive systems, like latest-generation fighter jets, to take down cheap, mass-produced drones, this is absolutely not sustainable," she said, adding that "the new system must be effective, affordable, and based on swift detection, interception, and, when needed, neutralization."
She added that "the Drone Wall will also strengthen the monitoring and protection of the skies and borders of the Union's Eastern flank, and later it will expand to cover the entire Union in a 360-degree approach."
Von der Leyen stressed that confronting "Russia's hybrid war" requires a new mindset that goes beyond traditional defense, encompassing software development for drones, spare parts for pipelines, rapid-response cyber teams, and public awareness campaigns.
"We must deter everyone who seeks to harm our territory and our people," she said, adding, "The choice before us is clear: we can either shy away and watch Russian threats escalate, or we meet them with unity, deterrence, and resolve and I know which path we will choose." (end)
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