Belgium investigates new drone sightings over military base

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By Alessandro Parodi

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Belgium has opened an investigation after two drone sightings over a military base in the country’s south-east, Defence Minister Theo Francken said on Wednesday, the second case in the country in under a month.

Francken said in two posts on the X social media that guards at barracks in the city of Marche-en-Famenne had noticed several drones flying over key parts of the military base on Sunday and Tuesday, prompting an investigation of the police and intelligence agency ADIV.

The sighting of about five drones on Saturday and two on Tuesday happened at night, meaning it was not possible to identify the type of devices used, a source close to the investigation told Reuters.

“This was not the work of amateurs, but of skilled drone pilots”, Francken said in his post.

His office confirmed that a probe had been opened, but could not provide further details including on the identity of potential perpetrators.

NATO countries have been on high alert in recent weeks after drone sightings and other air incursions, including at another Belgian military base , at airports in Copenhagen, Munich and in the Baltic region.

On Sunday Lithuania closed Vilnius Airport and Belarus border crossings after several objects, identified as likely helium balloons, entered its airspace.

Earlier this month, the European Commission proposed four flagship European defence projects, including a counter-drone system and a plan to fortify the eastern border, as part of a drive to get the continent ready to defend itself by 2030.

(Reporting by Alessandro Parodi; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten)