Greece has objected to Türkiye’s participation in the European Union’s “Drone Wall” initiative, which aims to enhance the bloc’s capacity to detect, track, and neutralize unauthorized drones, particularly in response to alleged Russian airspace violations, Greek media reported on Thursday.
According to the daily Kathimerini, Athens considers Türkiye’s exclusion a key condition for its support of the project. France and the Greek Cypriot Administration have also opposed Turkish involvement, while Germany, Italy, and Spain are reportedly in favor of it.
The initiative gained renewed momentum in September after about 20 Russian drones allegedly entered Polish airspace, prompting calls for stronger aerial surveillance across Europe. Similar incidents involving Russian aircraft have previously exposed weaknesses in European air defense systems. Moscow has denied responsibility for the violations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen first introduced the concept of a “drone wall” during her State of the Union address last month, describing it as part of an “Eastern Flank Watch” designed to safeguard Europe’s borders.
Defense ministers from ten EU member states bordering Russia including Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland agreed to advance the project in a virtual meeting on September 26, which also included Ukrainian and NATO representatives.