Russia has accused the European Union of manufacturing public anxiety over unidentified drones to justify increased defense budgets, escalating tensions amid reports of mysterious aerial intrusions across Northern Europe. Vladislav Maslennikov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Department, claimed the bloc seeks to "undermine socioeconomic stability" by prioritizing military expenditures over public welfare, state media RIA Novosti reported Saturday.
The remarks follow a week of heightened security alerts after unidentified drones disrupted operations at Copenhagen Airport and were spotted near German military installations bordering Denmark. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen labeled the incidents a "serious attack" on critical infrastructure, while Berlin launched investigations into potential airspace violations.
Russian officials denied involvement in the drone activity, with senior defense committee member Vladimir Chizhov stating Moscow "has no need to demonstrate strength through such provocations." Analysts note the timing coincides with stalled EU negotiations about creating a unified "drone wall" defense system along its eastern borders.
The escalating rhetoric highlights growing East-West friction as European nations reassess security strategies following Russia's military operations in Ukraine. While Brussels maintains the drone incidents require thorough investigation, Moscow frames the response as part of a broader pattern of "artificial threat inflation" to militarize EU policymaking.
