One empty chair: Hungary left out of EU drone wall meeting
Nine EU member states and Ukraine will take part in Friday’s meeting on creating a so-called “drone wall” to protect the Union’s eastern borders. One country will be absent: Hungary, the only EU state bordering Ukraine that will not be at the table.
Slovakia joins, Hungary opts out
European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius called the defence ministers from frontline states together for September 26 to discuss plans for a joint air-defence system against drones. Hungary and Slovakia were initially left out, but Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier announced at a press briefing in Brussels on Wednesday, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda that Slovakia has now joined the list of participants.
The initiative aims to build a coordinated defensive network to counter unmanned aerial vehicles. With Slovakia on board, Friday’s talks will bring together Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, joined by Denmark, Ukraine and Slovakia.
“This is not just a formal meeting. We expect strong commitments and concrete deliverables from member states,” Regnier stressed, adding that NATO partners will also be involved in the discussions.
Hungary’s name, however, is missing from the list. Although it borders Ukraine and is directly affected by the regional security threats, the Hungarian government has yet to signal any intention of joining the project.
What is the “drone wall?”
The drone wall would be a joint defence network along the EU’s eastern borders, designed to detect and intercept unmanned aircraft. The system would combine radars, sensors and counter-drone interceptors, operated collectively by the participating countries.
The urgency behind the project was underlined by recent events. On Tuesday, the European Commission pointed to a string of incidents as evidence of why such a system is needed:
“For those who still doubted the need to have a drone wall in the European Union, here we get another example of how important it is,” said Thomas Regnier, Commission spokesperson for defence policy.
He emphasized that the threat is tangible, noting that several member states have already been targeted.
“The latest attacks in Romania, in Poland, in Estonia, now in Denmark – four member states have been targeted. This is precisely why we will be working on this drone wall.”
EU and NATO leaders respond to Incursions
Drone and aircraft incursions have caught the attention of European leaders as well. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called it unacceptable that Russian aircraft violated Norway’s airspace three times this year, though he noted the incidents were less severe than those in Estonia, Poland or Romania.
The most alarming case came near Copenhagen Airport, where large drones disrupted air traffic for hours. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said at least three major drones were involved, while Danish police reported two or three approaching from different directions, flashing their lights before disappearing. Frederiksen described the incident as “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date.”
An EU spokesperson later suggested the pattern of incidents pointed toward Russia, though Rutte cautioned it was too early to attribute blame.
One empty chair
The wave of aircraft incursions has heightened tensions across the region, which is why Friday’s meeting in Brussels carries particular weight. Hungary’s reasons for staying away are still unclear – and while its absence will not halt progress on the drone wall, questions remain about the political consequences of sitting out at a time when EU–Hungary relations are already strained.
Featured image: NATO / nato.int
Well. Hungary has nothing to fear. Our Politicians have a friend – in Mr. Putin, Mr. Lavrov …
Russia would never attack Hungary!
#hopeisnotastrategy
Russian allies are not welcome in European security meetings. Hungarian participation is inconcievable at this point. Leave the EU and leave NATO. It can’t come soon enough. Make your ass-licking partnership with Putin official.
It looks like Fico pulled a fast one on Orban by making him think that Slovakia would join Hungary in non-attendance but he joined the meeting at the last minute leaving Orban isolated. Erdogan did the same thing with Sweden’s NATO membership by approving it without any prior notice thus leaving Orban hanging with his broken promise not to be the last one to approve it. This all exposes the Fidesz government for what it is but the question is how this will be reported by the Hungarian media to the brainwashed public that in large part exists in a Fidesz bubble.
So now Hungary joined at the last minute. Putin will get his update tomorrow from Budapest.