EU needs broad response to hybrid warfare threats, von der Leyen says

STRASBOURG (Reuters) -Recent drone incidents and other airspace violations show Europe is facing hybrid warfare to which it must respond with measures that go beyond traditional defence, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

"This is not random harassment," von der Leyen said in a speech in European Parliament in Strasbourg.

"It is a coherent and escalating campaign to unsettle our citizens, test our resolve, divide our Union, and weaken our support for Ukraine. And it is time to call it by its name. This is hybrid warfare."

Von der Leyen did not say Russia was responsible for all the incidents but said it was clear Russia's aim is to "sow division" in Europe.

European officials have already attributed some of the recent incidents to Moscow.

"Tackling Russia’s hybrid war is not only about traditional defence," von der Leyen said. "This requires a new mind-set for all of us. We can either shy away and watch Russian threats escalate, or we meet them with unity, deterrence and resolve."

(Reporting by Bart Meijer, Andrew Gray, Editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout)

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