NATO and the European Union are developing a unified air defense system to counter the growing threat of drones, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced during a press conference in Bucharest.

Rutte’s visit to Romania was his first since assuming the position of NATO’s chief. Talks with Romanian President Nikushor Dan took place at the Cotroceni Palace and were streamed live on the official website of the president’s administration.

Rutte said that NATO and the EU are «working very closely on building a single drone defense system.» He stressed that while the alliance remains defensive in nature, it must be ready for any possible scenario.

President Dan noted that the EU’s new defense initiatives — including its drone defense program — are being implemented in coordination with NATO. He emphasized that these efforts are not about competition between the two organizations, but about complementary projects integrated into the alliance’s broader defense framework.

Earlier, Rutte announced the launch of Operation Eastern Sentinel, aimed at strengthening NATO’s eastern flank following a drone incident in Poland. Spain joined the mission on its first day as a sign of solidarity with its allies.