Sweden’s defense minister said a drone jammed by Swedish forces near a visiting French aircraft carrier was “probably” Russian, heightening tensions in the Baltic region amid ongoing NATO exercises.
Defense Minister Pål Jonson told Swedish broadcaster SVT there was likely a “strong link” between the drone and a Russian naval vessel operating in Sweden’s territorial waters in the Øresund Strait, the narrow channel between Sweden and Denmark.
The drone was detected about seven nautical miles from the Charles de Gaulle, France’s flagship aircraft carrier, which was docked in Malmö for the first time. The carrier is in the region to participate in NATO drills.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed claims that the drone was Russian as “absurd.”
Rising Drone Concerns in the Region
NATO allies have reported a growing number of drone sightings near sensitive military and infrastructure sites across Northern Europe. Incidents have been recorded in Denmark and the Baltic states in recent months.
In France, an investigation was launched in December after drones were spotted over the Île Longue naval base near Brest — home to the country’s nuclear ballistic missile submarines.
French General Staff spokesman Col. Guillaume Vernet said the recent drone incident near Malmö demonstrated the “robustness” of Sweden’s response and had no operational impact on the French mission.
Strategic Signal?
Former French military commander Dominique Trinquand said that if the drone were Russian, it would not be surprising given ongoing intelligence operations in the area.
“That they would do so while the French aircraft carrier is deployed there is certainly a strategic signal,” he said in comments to French media.
The Charles de Gaulle carries Rafale fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft and is operating under “Mission La Fayette 26,” participating in NATO exercises in the Baltic and Atlantic regions, including off Norway’s coast. Its presence marks a growing French military focus on supporting NATO allies in Northern Europe amid concerns over Russian hybrid warfare tactics.
Separately, Sweden’s coast guard has launched an investigation into a fuel spill detected at Malmö’s port, where two oil tankers and the aircraft carrier are docked. Authorities say there is no indication the spill is connected to the French vessel.
