Swedish forces intercepted a suspected Russian drone off the southern coast while the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was docked in Malmö. A naval vessel spotted the drone in the Ålesund Strait, leading to unspecified countermeasures that caused contact with the drone to be lost. The incident occurred during a NATO exercise involving the carrier, which was more than 10 kilometers from the drone’s location.
Sweden’s Defense Minister Poul Jonsson indicated the drone likely belonged to Russia, coinciding with a Russian warship’s presence in Swedish waters. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson described the situation as serious, suggesting it reflects tensions between Russia and the West. French officials reassured that the carrier was safe and described the drone’s potential Russian link as an “absurd provocation.”
The Kremlin dismissed claims of the drone’s Russian origin as “ridiculous.” This incident aligns with broader concerns among Western officials about Russian operations aimed at disrupting stability in Europe, particularly following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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