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Belgium to discuss response to drones
Jakub Krupa
The Belgian government will hold an emergency meeting of the national security council this morning to discuss the recent drone sightings that disrupted the operations at Brussels airport and caused concern after flying over military bases in the country.
As our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin says in our top story, the Belgian government has not said who it thinks is responsible for the drones, but a source told the Belga news agency that the security services had “little doubt” that a state actor was behind recent sightings, “very probably Russia”. The point was reported to have been made at a meeting to prepare Thursday’s national security council, reported Le Soir.
In a sign of just how seriously this is being treated, Belgian defence minister Theo Francken spoke with Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte last night, updating him on what the authorities know about the incident. “Allies are providing welcome support to address the challenge,” Nato spokesperson said in a statement after their conversation.
The Belgian prime minister, Bart de Wever, faces a really busy day ahead: after attending the security council meeting, he is also expected to meet King Philippe for a chat amid a prolonged crisis about the country’s budget. One to watch.
Separately, we will keep an eye on the European statements at the COP30 summit in Brazil, Rutte’s time in Romania, and the French public audit office’s report on Louvre museum, which – going by the first reports in the French media – will be scatching.
Lots for us to cover.
It’s Thursday, 6 November 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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Belgian interior minister expects proposals on drones after security council meeting
Speaking before the security council meeting, the Belgian interior minister Bernard Quintin told reporters that he wanted to hear what the country’s security services made of the drone incidents.
“I know that the defence [ministry] will come up with some proposals to guarantee our security. We will see what concrete measures will emerge from that,” he told VRT.
China willing to explore trade, investment deals with EU, minister says
Lisa O’Carroll
Separately, China said on Thursday it is willing to explore the possibility of various trade and investment agreements with the EU.
Ministry spokesperson He Yadong told a press conference that the two sides share “extensive common interests and huge space for cooperation.”
The comment followed remarks by Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi on Tuesday, who told his Estonian counterpart in Beijing that China was ready to negotiate and sign a free trade agreement with the bloc.
It comes amid urgent efforts by the EU to persuade China to ease up on restrictions on the supply of chips and rare earths, vital for car and other industries, something already achieved by Donald Trump.
Speaking in Kuwait yesterday, trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said the EU had established a “special channel” of communication with Chinese authorities to secure the flow of rare earth materials vital for EU industries,
He said he had discussed the issue directly with commerce minister Wang Wentao several times, stressing that poorly managed export procedures could have a “very negative impact on production and manufacturing in the EU”.
Belgium to discuss response to drones
Jakub Krupa
The Belgian government will hold an emergency meeting of the national security council this morning to discuss the recent drone sightings that disrupted the operations at Brussels airport and caused concern after flying over military bases in the country.
As our Brussels correspondent Jennifer Rankin says in our top story, the Belgian government has not said who it thinks is responsible for the drones, but a source told the Belga news agency that the security services had “little doubt” that a state actor was behind recent sightings, “very probably Russia”. The point was reported to have been made at a meeting to prepare Thursday’s national security council, reported Le Soir.
In a sign of just how seriously this is being treated, Belgian defence minister Theo Francken spoke with Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte last night, updating him on what the authorities know about the incident. “Allies are providing welcome support to address the challenge,” Nato spokesperson said in a statement after their conversation.
The Belgian prime minister, Bart de Wever, faces a really busy day ahead: after attending the security council meeting, he is also expected to meet King Philippe for a chat amid a prolonged crisis about the country’s budget. One to watch.
Separately, we will keep an eye on the European statements at the COP30 summit in Brazil, Rutte’s time in Romania, and the French public audit office’s report on Louvre museum, which – going by the first reports in the French media – will be scatching.
Lots for us to cover.
It’s Thursday, 6 November 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
