Romanian military authorized to shoot down threatening drones
The Romanian parliament has passed a law allowing the shooting down of drones that violate the country's airspace. The decision is based on the level of threat to people and infrastructure.
The law provides guidelines for the military on how to handle drones that illegally enter Romania's airspace. Drones can be destroyed, neutralized, or intercepted depending on the threat level.
Destruction is a last resort and may only be applied if the drone is conducting an attack or reacting aggressively to interception attempts.
The measures outlined in the law are intended to be activated gradually. This process includes determining the drone's position, attempting to establish contact, interception, warning shots, and as a final measure, destruction. These actions may also involve NATO allied forces.
Political controversies
The law was approved by both houses of parliament, despite strong opposition from radical right-wing politicians who control over one-third of the seats. Romania, as one of the NATO eastern flank countries, shares a 400-mile border with Ukraine. Reuters notes that drone fragments are often found in Romania after falling on the country’s territory during Russian attacks on Ukraine.
