Czech President Petr Pavel has urged NATO to take a firmer stance against repeated Russian violations of Allied airspace, saying that Moscow is deliberately testing the alliance’s readiness and resolve. During a visit to the Karlovy Vary region on November 11, the former NATO general declared that Russia’s provocations “cannot be ignored.” “Russia respects only strength,” warns Petr Pavel.
“There are nations you can warn once — and they will stop. But some need to face consequences to understand,” Pavel said. “Russia is testing not only individual states’ air defenses and NATO’s integrated systems, but also our determination to defend ourselves. We cannot endlessly tolerate such aggression. Russia respects only strength.”
The statement comes amid a surge of drone activity near military installations and airports across Europe — including Germany, Denmark, Norway, and most recently Belgium. On November 9, three unidentified drones were spotted over the Doel nuclear power plant near Antwerp, forcing temporary flight suspensions.
EU and NATO officials suspect Russian involvement. According to The Wall Street Journal, Germany now records an average of three drone incidents per day over military and defense-industrial sites. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called these systematic intrusions a “hybrid warfare tactic” designed to destabilize Europe and test its defenses.
Polish intelligence has reported that Russia is using its “shadow fleet” of civilian ships in international waters to coordinate drone launches into European airspace — a strategy allowing the Kremlin to maintain formal deniability while mapping critical infrastructure across the continent.
While most drones appear unarmed, their presence near airports poses serious risks to civilian aviation. Even a small drone can cause a disaster if it collides with an aircraft engine or cockpit. Repeated incursions have forced several European airports to temporarily halt operations.
Interception is complicated by drones’ low flight altitude and adaptive routing, requiring costly detection systems — from radar networks to acoustic sensors. Legal constraints further complicate responses: in densely populated areas, responsibility is split among military, police, and civil aviation authorities, leaving exploitable “gray zones” in Europe’s air defense.
Europe’s response and calls for deterrence. Pavel’s warning echoes a broader shift in European security thinking. He cited Turkey’s 2015 downing of a Russian jet as an example of how firm military action can deter further provocations. “Only decisive response can stop Moscow,” he said.
In response to the growing threat, the EU has launched the “Drone Wall” initiative — an integrated counter-UAV system aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and improving coordination among member states. It enables real-time data sharing to ensure faster responses to aerial intrusions.
The European Parliament on October 9 passed a resolution urging EU countries to shoot down unauthorized drones or aircraft entering their airspace, describing Russian incursions as part of a “systematic hybrid and military campaign.” The resolution, adopted by a large majority, underscores Europe’s emerging consensus that deterrence must be visible and collective.