Russia just pulled another dangerous stunt that should alarm every American. Putin’s thugs jammed the GPS on a plane carrying top European Union leader Ursula von der Leyen over Bulgaria this past weekend. The aircraft had to circle the airport for a whole hour before landing safely.
This was no accident or technical glitch. Bulgarian authorities confirmed that Russia deliberately attacked the satellite signals guiding the plane. The EU Commission President had to rely on old-fashioned ground navigation to land safely in Plovdiv.
Von der Leyen was on a critical mission visiting countries that border Russia and Belarus. She’s been one of Putin’s biggest critics in Europe and a strong supporter of Ukraine. This attack shows how desperate and reckless Russia has become.
Putin’s war machine isn’t just targeting Ukraine anymore. They’re going after Western leaders flying in international airspace. Bulgaria’s air traffic control says these GPS attacks have skyrocketed since Russia invaded Ukraine.
The EU’s response was typically weak and diplomatic. Their spokesperson just called it part of Russia’s “hostile behavior” and promised to keep supporting Ukraine. That’s not nearly enough when they’re targeting our allies’ planes.
This is exactly the kind of hybrid warfare Russia uses to intimidate the West. They attack ships, hack computers, commit arson, and now jam GPS systems. Putin thinks he can bully Europe into backing down from supporting Ukraine.
America needs to wake up to this growing threat. Russia is testing how far they can push before anyone fights back. They’re getting bolder because they think the West is too scared to respond.
We must stand with our European allies and make Putin pay for these attacks. Every GPS jamming incident, every cyber attack, and every act of sabotage demands swift retaliation. Weakness only invites more aggression from this dictator.
