Brussels: Greece is firmly against Trkiye's inclusion in the European Union's Drone Wall initiative, a project designed to enhance the EU's capability to detect, track, and neutralize unauthorized drones. This opposition arises amidst concerns over airspace violations allegedly conducted by Russia, as reported by local media on Thursday.
According to Anadolu Agency, Greece considers Trkiye's exclusion a critical condition for its support of the initiative, which it sees as a significant step towards collective EU action against drone threats. France and the Greek Cypriot Administration align with Greece in opposing Turkish participation, while Germany, Italy, and Spain are in favor of including Trkiye.
In a recent incident in September, about 20 Russian drones reportedly breached Polish airspace, leading to immediate demands for action. Previous events have seen Russian jets and drones allegedly violating airspace over several European countries, highlighting deficiencies in current air defenses. Russia has denied any involvement in these occurrences.
The concept of a "drone wall" was first publicly introduced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her State of the Union address last month. She presented it as part of an "Eastern Flank Watch" strategy aimed at protecting Europe's susceptible borders. Defense ministers from 10 EU countries bordering Russia, including Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, agreed to push forward with the project during a virtual meeting on September 26, which also included participation from Ukrainian and NATO officials.