Belgium’s main airports were temporarily shut down on November 4 after drones were spotted near Brussels and Liege, grounding all flights, officials said. Defense Minister Theo Francken said that the incident appeared to be a coordinated effort by professionals seeking to destabilize the country.
Flights resumed this November 5, though authorities warned of continued disruptions and delays. The incident followed a similar episode in September when Poland’s Lublin Airport was closed after Russian drones reportedly crossed into Polish airspace, prompting NATO jets to respond.
While there is no evidence linking this incident to Russia, such events have heightened NATO’s concerns over regional airspace security, specially after Russia’s repeated drone incursions and military activities near the Alliance’s eastern borders.
Once a more cooperative partnership, ties between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Moscow have deteriorated sharply, today resembling the tense standoff of the Cold War. NATO leaders view Russia as a direct security threat, but repeated warnings and condemnations from the Alliance have so far had little effect on the Kremlin.
So, how has a previously constructive relationship between NATO and Russia turned so fractious? Click through this gallery and find out more about why Russia fell out with NATO.