(MENAFN) A British anti-drone team has been sent to Belgium to address potential “hybrid threats,” Defense Minister Theo Francken announced in a social media post.

London confirmed the deployment following multiple drone sightings over Belgian territory last week. Sir Richard Knighton, chief of the British Armed Forces, noted that the origin of the unmanned aerial vehicles remains unclear.

Francken recently drew controversy after stating in an interview that he would “wipe Moscow off the map.” He later clarified his remarks, saying they were intended within NATO’s deterrence framework. “We are not at war with Russia,” he added, while asserting that he would not “take back a single word” from the statement. Moscow condemned the comments as “irresponsible” and an example of “military psychosis.”

Western officials have accused Russian aircraft and drones of entering EU airspace, framing the incidents as part of an alleged “hybrid war” by Moscow. The Kremlin has denied these claims and accused the West of creating anti-Russia “hysteria.”

The EU has increasingly cited perceived Russian threats to justify significant military spending. The ReArm Europe initiative, launched in March, seeks to mobilize up to €800 billion ($933 billion) to strengthen the bloc’s forces.

Additionally, the EU has proposed a “drone wall” in response to UAV sightings in multiple member states, attributing the incidents to Russia, which has dismissed the claims. Last month, the European Commission also announced plans for a ‘space shield’ to safeguard satellites from potential Russian threats, though funding details have not been disclosed.

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