Britain is providing military support to Belgium after a series of suspected Russian drone incursions into its airspace, the new chief of the defence staff has said.
Sir Richard Knighton told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that his Belgian counterpart had asked for assistance earlier this week and that equipment and personnel were now on the way.
Brussels Airport was forced to close temporarily on Thursday night after drones were spotted nearby. They were also seen in other locations, including a military base.
This follows a series of drone incursions over several NATO nations that has disrupted air travel. Russia has denied accusations of conducting hybrid warfare on allies of Ukraine.
Sir Richard said it was not known for sure if the incursions were by Russia, but that it was plausible they had been ordered by Moscow.
Defence Secretary John Healey stated, As hybrid threats grow, our strength lies in our alliances and our collective resolve to defend, deter and protect our critical infrastructure and airspace.
Members of the RAF's 2 Force Protection Wing are likely to be deployed, the BBC understands.
Alongside NATO allies, Sir Richard added that the UK would help Belgium by providing our kit and capability. The German defence ministry also confirmed its support for Belgium with anti-drone measures.
About 3,000 Brussels Airlines passengers were affected by Thursday's disruption, with the carrier indicating it faced considerable costs from cancelling or diverting dozens of flights.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Belgian security services have indicated a suspicion of Russia's involvement in the incursion, although there is no concrete evidence linking it to them.
Sir Richard emphasized that Russia remains the most pressing threat right now to Europe, particularly following the illegal invasion of Ukraine.
While officials suspect a connection to Russia, there is a lack of evidence directly tying the incursions to the Kremlin, which has consistently denied any involvement.
