Brussels Playbook Podcast Jourová’s secrets and Putin’s drone tests
Sep 19, 2025
Věra Jourová, former European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, shares inside stories from her Brussels tenure, reflecting on political clashes and her new life in Prague as a university vice-rector. Jan Cienski delves into Russia's drone incursions, analyzing NATO's response and the geopolitical dilemmas posed by these incursions. Eva Hartog unpacks Kremlin motives and the narratives spun by Russian media, emphasizing the broader implications for European unity and security.
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Cost Asymmetry In Air Defence
- NATO's kinetic response showcased operational ability but highlighted huge cost asymmetry against cheap drones.
- Expensive missiles and jets counter inexpensive drones, creating an unsustainable cost-exchange dynamic.
Accelerate Affordable Drone Defenses
- Build layered, affordable drone detection and countermeasures along the eastern flank using sensors, AI, and commercial systems.
- Pool allied capabilities and learn from Ukrainian operational experience to scale defenses faster.
Ukraine's Drone Expertise Is A Model
- Ukraine leads in drone countermeasures and achieves high interception rates with tailored tactics and production.
- NATO must adopt Ukrainian techniques and ramp local production to match drone warfare demands.
