4 more drones spotted over air base in Belgium

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - Four drones were sighted over the Kleine-Brogel air base in Belgium on Sunday evening, marking the third consecutive night of drone activity over military and civilian sites, according to local media reports.

Mayor Steven Mathei confirmed that both the Defense Ministry and police detected four drones around 7.00 pm local time, prompting the deployment of a federal police helicopter, Belga news agency reported on Monday.

The drones later disappeared toward the Netherlands, heightening concerns over repeated incursions above one of Belgium's most sensitive military installations.

The latest incidents follow similar sightings on Friday and Saturday. Separately, drones were also spotted over Deurne and Ostend airports, with the most activity above Kleine-Brogel—home to Belgium's F-16s and US nuclear weapons. Attempts to intercept them failed.

Meanwhile, police received reports of about 10 drones over Mechelen-Zuid on Sunday, but none were found.

Defense Minister Theo Francken described the incursions as clear "espionage activities," saying the drones circled above the base for up to 30 minutes, gathering highly targeted information, such as the exact location of the access gate, when the guards pass by, and where the cameras are located. "All information that could be useful for a sabotage attack later."

Francken is expected to present a €50 million ($57 million) anti-drone plan to the Cabinet on Friday.

The origin of the drones remains unknown, and the Defense Ministry has not confirmed any link.

Colonel Roger Housen told Flemish daily Het Laatste Nieuws that if Moscow were behind the incidents, they could be related to tensions over Euroclear, the Brussels-based financial institution holding frozen Russian assets.

The EU is considering using these funds to support Ukraine, though Prime Minister Bart De Wever has so far delayed the decision.