Drone flights: hybrid warfare against Europe?
Drones of unknown origin were again spotted near airports and military bases in Denmark and Norway over the weekend. In response, the Danish government issued a flight ban on civilian drones and model aircraft which will remain in effect until Friday - also because an EU summit is scheduled to take place in Copenhagen this week. The media discuss how Europe should respond to these and other hybrid threats.
Turning a blind eye no longer an option
Russia's provocations are forcing Europe to act, says De Volkskrant:
“Russia's repeated actions are forcing European countries to face the facts: they are dealing with a large neighbour driven by a revanchist, neo-imperialist ideology that sacrifices hundreds of thousands of lives for the glory of the Russian nation - with an economy that is now almost entirely devoted to creating an unbeatable war machine. This is something to consider before we close the curtains to avoid seeing the burning house across the street.”
Lack of consensus over what comes next
Jutarnji list states:
“Europe can't agree on how to respond to Russia. This will also be discussed at the upcoming EU and Nato summits. Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski threatened with military strikes against Russian fighter jets if they strayed into Polish airspace. By contrast, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stressed that shooting down Russian aircraft would be dangerous and warned other Nato members not to fall into Putin's 'escalation trap'. Acting prudently is not cowardice but being responsible towards one's own country and peace in Europe.”
Nato's eastern countries are frontline states
The Süddeutsche Zeitung says it is a mistake to keep talking of Nato's eastern flank:
“According to standard military definitions, a flank is the side of a troop formation that faces away from the enemy. ... The side facing the enemy, especially when the forces there are engaged, is called the front. One can understand why politicians and generals don't like to refer to Nato's eastern border as the 'eastern front'. The word front conjures up images of war, blood and death. The word flank sounds more harmless, more technical, more distant. But the truth is different. ... The Nato countries in the east, which face an aggressive Russia sending threats and fighter jets, don't have the feeling that they are somehow on the sidelines and can rest easy. They see themselves as what they really are: frontline states.”
Combat political infiltration
The real front line is not in eastern Europe, La Croix counters:
“The greatest risk is not that Russian tanks will roll into Warsaw, let alone Berlin. The more real danger is that pro-Russian political parties will come to power and destroy what makes us strong: the European Union. ... To combat this, we must remain calm and not give in to provocations. ... We must preserve European unity and do everything in our power to combat disinformation, which now comes not only from the East but also from the West. Continuing to develop TikTok, Facebook, X and artificial intelligence is just as important - if not more so - as building tanks or fighter jets.”
An empire's subtle expansion strategy
Columnist Rafael Vilasanjuan points to Russia's sophisticated warfare in El Periódico de Catalunya:
“Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine, Europe has been searching for its borders. Putin's attack on his neighbouring country was not just a territorial matter, but the beginning of the return to the Russian empire. For Europe, it was the end of the quiet years. ... The borders have become fluid. ... In Poland and Romania, drones and aeroplanes are announcing that Putin doesn't just want the Donbas. ... We may be prepared militarily, but this battle is more subtle and requires us being able to defend ourselves against cyber attacks, spies and criminals attacks from within. If we want to save Europe, that's where we have to start.”
War hysteria at the expense of the welfare state
Europe is succumbing to a rearmament frenzy, Naftemporiki fears:
“A war hysteria seems to be developing, especially in the European public sphere. A hysteria aimed at convincing people that Russia is preparing to invade European Nato member states. A hysteria aimed at convincing European citizens to sacrifice the welfare state for military equipment ... American weapons are even being bought with European taxpayers' money to be sent to Ukraine. ... The EU economy is increasingly turning into a war economy. Even European banks are preparing for a period of collective rearmament and adapting their policies and strategies accordingly.”