Former German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger has called on the European Union and NATO to respond to a drone incident at Germany's Leipzig/Halle airport.
Speaking to the Welt television channel, Ischinger said Germany must involve the international organizations to which it belongs. He noted that the European Union should be involved first, followed possibly by NATO, because the situation touches on the country's central foreign policy and security interests.
NATO Article 4 consultations
However, the former chairman of the Munich Security Conference said it would be premature to request NATO consultations under Article 4. He stated that such a step should only be taken after the German government establishes who was responsible for the incident.
The call follows the discovery of two unidentified objects at Leipzig/Halle airport on the night of August 5. One object was spotted in the sky while the second was found on the ground, leading to restrictions on airport operations. The object on the ground was reported to be an unmanned aerial vehicle with a package containing a detonator attached to it.
