NATO Addresses Suspected Russian GPS Jamming After EU Commission President's Flight Incident

NATO is actively working to counter suspected Russian GPS jamming following an incident where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's plane lost navigation capabilities over Bulgaria. The aircraft landed safely, but Bulgarian authorities suspect Russian interference.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the seriousness of the threat, stating, "We are all on the eastern flank now, whether you live in London or Tallinn." He highlighted that the jamming is part of a broader campaign of "hybrid threats" by Russia, including cutting undersea cables and cyberattacks.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Western officials have accused Moscow and its proxies of staging numerous hybrid warfare attacks, ranging from vandalism to arson and attempted assassinations. The interference includes jamming, where strong radio signals overwhelm communications, and spoofing, which misleads receivers about their location or time.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov stated that the country will not investigate the jamming incident, noting that "such things happen every day" and attributing it to side effects of Russia's war in Ukraine.

Neither the Kremlin nor von der Leyen have publicly commented on the incident.