“We have the situation under control” Belgian home and security minister Bernard Quintin (Francophone liberal) told international media after Thursday’s unscheduled meeting of Belgium’s security council. The meeting was called after unidentified drones caused disruption at airports and military bases across Belgium in recent days. Belgian security services blame Russia for the disruption.
After the meeting Quintin called for calm: “If the police want to be able to do something, there must be a clear legal framework for it. It is our job as politicians to look into that,” the minister said.
He emphasised that there is a mandatory registration system for drones and their pilots. "We do not live in a system where everyone can do whatever they want. We cannot ban all drones, because we also need them for our security.
“But I want to emphasize that you can get 10 to 20 years in prison if you fly a drone over the airport and endanger safety.”
Quintin provided reassurance: “We really do have the situation under control. The threat is there, I won't deny that, but we are certainly not completely left to our own devices.”
Air surveillance centre to be reinforced by 1 January
After the security council meeting Belgian defence minister Francken (Flemish nationalist) announced the decision to strengthen the NASC, the National Air Security Center by 1 January.
"The NASC in Beauvechain (Walloon Brabant) will be strengthened by 1 January. This is the most important measure taken at the National security council meeting", defense minister Francken noted upon leaving the meeting.
“All security services together must obtain a global picture of the airspace,” he said. The NASC must ensure this.
The purchase of anti-drone equipment was also discussed, he said. He is now working on that dossier so that it can be presented to cabinet tomorrow.
“In the meantime, no hostile drones should be allowed on our territory or above our military bases. The mission and guidelines are clear: if possible, we will shoot them down!”