The UK military personnel and equipment are being sent to Belgium to help it bolster its defences after drone incursions on its airspace, suspected of being carried out by Russia.
The new head of the UK military, Sir Richard Knighton, stated that his Belgian counterpart requested assistance earlier this week, leading to the rapid deployment of military resources.
Belgium's main airport Zavantem was temporarily closed after drones were spotted nearby, affecting around 3,000 Brussels Airlines passengers. The airline faced considerable costs due to cancellations and diversions of flights.
Sir Richard noted the involvement of NATO allies in enhancing Belgium's defense capabilities, which is critical as the incursions raised serious concerns about the security of civilian infrastructure across Europe.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius echoed suspicions of Russian involvement in the incursions, although evidence linking the Kremlin has yet to be confirmed. The incidents have turned from a localized issue to a broader threat affecting multiple countries.
In response to these events, the UK has also intensified its military operations across Europe to respond to the perceived threats from Russia, which Sir Richard described as the most pressing challenge facing European security today.
