The Swedish military said a Russian drone flew unauthorized off the coast of southern Sweden while the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was docked in the port of Malmö.
The nuclear-powered carrier is in Malmö this week to take part in regular NATO exercise activities.
The incident comes as the Baltic Sea has become a hotspot in tensions between Russia and NATO countries, with nearby states reporting numerous drone sightings in recent months, some blamed on Russia.
Swedish vessel ‘neutralized’ drone
This week’s suspected Russian drone was detected by a Swedish naval vessel, which authorities said traced it to takeoff from a Russian signals intelligence ship in the Oresund strait, the waterway separating Sweden from Denmark.
The Swedish naval vessel reportedly used countermeasures to jam the drone.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, visiting Malmö on Friday, said that if Russian involvement were confirmed “the only conclusion I would draw is that it would be a ridiculous provocation.”
“The drone was neutralized away from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and in no way was the security of the aircraft carrier and its group threatened by this,” Barrot added.
Russia rejects ‘absurd’ accusation
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who was also part of the Charles de Gaulle visit, said the drone incursion was “serious and maybe not surprising.”
Asked about the allegation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists he did not know about it and called it “quite absurd” to conclude the drone was Russian merely because a Russian ship was nearby.
Swedish military said the Russian ship was followed by the Swedish naval vessel out of Swedish waters until it proceeded into the Baltic Sea, and accused the Russian ship of failing to follow rules that apply to vessels passing through the strait in Swedish waters.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
