A suspected Russian-linked drone incident near a French aircraft carrier in Swedish waters has underlined rising tensions and evolving security threats Europe's Baltic region.
A drone intercepted near France’s flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle during a visit to southern Sweden was likely of Russian origin, Sweden’s defence minister has said – underlining the heightened tensions playing out across the Baltic region.
Pal Jonson told Swedish broadcaster SVT on Thursday that the drone incident, which took place the previous day in the Oresund Strait between Sweden and Denmark, appeared to be linked to a Russian military vessel operating nearby at the time. “In all likelihood, there is a strong link between the Russian military vessel and this drone,” he said, pointing to what he described as a probable Russian connection.
The episode unfolded around 13 kilometres from the Charles de Gaulle, which had made a historic first port call in the Swedish city of Malmo alongside its escort vessels before heading off to join NATO exercises.
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Response in contested waters
Swedish forces moved quickly after detecting the drone. A navy vessel identified the aircraft and deployed electronic countermeasures to jam it – a technique designed to sever the connection between the drone and its operator or interfere with its navigation systems.
According to Jonson, the drone had likely entered Swedish airspace, adding a potential violation to an already sensitive situation. A statement from the French military confirmed that Swedish armed forces “took countermeasures to disrupt the suspected drone” before ultimately losing contact with it.
The incident highlights the level of preparedness among Nordic and allied forces. Sweden, which has strengthened its defence posture in recent years, had already implemented what Jonson described as “special protective measures” during the French carrier’s visit – a sign of close coordination between European partners.
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Focus on hybrid threats
The Baltic Sea has increasingly become a focal point of strategic rivalry between Russia and NATO countries, with military activity, surveillance and signalling all on the rise.
Incidents involving drones, cyber activity and other non-conventional tactics are now seen as part of a broader pattern of so-called hybrid warfare.
Four years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, concern is mounting that such actions may be aimed at testing defences or sending subtle warnings to European nations backing Kyiv. While the investigation into this particular drone is ongoing, officials appear confident that the rapid response helped prevent any escalation.
(With newswires)
