15 October 2025
NATO looks to boost defense capability as Russia tests alliance’s strength
NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels amid fears that Russia is scrutinizing the alliance’s responses to a series of high-profile incursions into its members’ airspace.
Among other things, ministers are expected to discuss setting up a “drone wall” to counter the Russian threat, with NATO chief Mark Rutte saying the project is being worked on jointly with the EU.
Europe has recently seen a number of mysterious drone flights, which have disrupted airports and flown close to military sites in several countries.
NATO is currently considering incorporating low-cost technologies, such as those used by Ukraine, into its anti-drone defences.
Current anti-drone systems largely rely on expensive missiles and aircraft.
Ministers are also to consider increasing support for Ukraine against Moscow against a full-scale invasion of its territory, after a study released on Tuesday showed a big drop in Western military aid to Kiev in recent months.
A study by Germany’s Kiel Institute showed that such support dropped by 43% in July and August compared with the first half of the year, even as Kiev’s European allies began buying US arms for Ukraine under a US scheme called the Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL).
Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have all purchased weapons under the scheme, but Italy and Spain have sent very few weapons. France does not intend to participate in this arrangement.
Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles Fernandez is also likely to come under pressure from her US counterpart Pete Hegseth over Madrid’s failure to meet NATO spending targets.
The failure was criticized just last week by US President Donald Trump, who threatened to pull Spain out of NATO if it did not comply.