**Germany’s Cabinet Approves Drone Shootdown Plan**
The German government has decided to allow the military to shoot down suspicious drones seen near military sites or critical infrastructure. The decision was made by the cabinet, led by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser.
According to a statement from Faeser, “especially since Russia’s war against Ukraine, we have seen that drones are being used more and more frequently.” This poses an increasing challenge for police and their current technology, she said.
**Russia Suspected of Launching Shadow War**
The move comes amid concerns about a “shadow war” launched by Russia against Western countries supporting Ukraine. While Russia denies these allegations, there have been reports of alleged attempts to blow up international airliners, attack infrastructure, and interfere with democratic elections.
In November, Polish prosecutors said that parcel fires targeting courier companies in Europe were dry runs by groups aiming to sabotage flights to the US and Canada. This was suspected to be part of an orchestrated campaign by Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU.
**Recent Drone Sightings**
There have been several instances of unidentified drones flying over military bases recently. At least 10 such drones were seen flying above Manching Air Base near Ingolstadt on Sunday evening. Drones had also been spotted at US air base Ramstein and an industrial zone nearby.
Under the new proposals, soldiers may shoot down a drone if they think it poses a danger to people’s lives or critical facilities. However, this still needs parliamentary approval.
