Belgium, Europe – Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed on Wednesday that drones had been repeatedly spotted over the Marche-en-Famenne military base. He indicated that this was “not the work of amateurs, but rather professional pilots.”
The minister wrote on the X platform that “several drones were spotted again last night over Marche-en-Famenne,” adding that Belgian police and intelligence services are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.
Franken had previously referred to media reports of drones flying over the military base last Saturday night. This raised security concerns about the safety of Belgian military installations.
Commenting on these developments, the minister stressed the urgent need to procure the appropriate equipment to quickly counter these threats. He added, “The procurement file is ready. There is no more time to waste.”
This move comes at a time when the Belgian government is facing a crisis related to the difficulty of budget negotiations. It also faces challenges in implementing massive austerity measures, further straining the country’s security and military administration.
If you’d like, I can also craft a concise and engaging version of the news story suitable for social media. It could focus on the drones and the minister’s call to expedite the purchase of the equipment.
