WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch A Former NATO Chief on Putin, Ukraine, and a European 'Drone Wall'
Oct 9, 2025
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former NATO Secretary General and Prime Minister of Denmark, discusses critical strategies for European defense. He proposes that NATO should pledge to intercept intruding Russian drones and suggests establishing a rapid 'drone wall' for better security. Rasmussen emphasizes the need for a European reassurance force in Ukraine to push for peace talks with Putin while addressing Europe's growing defense investments and the importance of reducing reliance on Russian energy. His insights highlight the urgent challenges in modern geopolitical landscapes.
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Make Airspace Rules Explicit
- Declare publicly that any aircraft or drone violating NATO airspace will be shut down to deter further tests by Russia.
- A clear, preannounced rule forces Putin to reconsider incursions rather than exploit ambiguity.
Rapid 'Drone Wall' Deployment
- Build a
Ukraine's Drone Expertise Is An Asset
- Ukraine already fields daily counter-drone expertise that can be integrated into European defenses.
- Combining Ukrainian experience with AI and producers' capacity can compress deployment timelines to months.