Sweden says Russian drone flew near French aircraft carrier

The Swedish military said on Friday that a Russian drone had flown unauthorized off the coast of southern Sweden while a French aircraft carrier was docked in the port of Malmo.

French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is in Malmo this week to take part in regular NATO exercise activities.

The incident comes as the Baltic Sea has become a hotspot in ongoing tensions between Russia and the NATO alliance countries, with nearby countries having reported numerous drone sightings in recent months, some of which have been blamed on Russia.

Swedish vessel 'neutralized' drone

This week's suspected Russian drone was detected by a Swedish naval vessel, which authorities have said they found to be taking off from a Russian signals intelligence ship in the Oresund strait, a waterway that separates Sweden from Denmark.

The Swedish naval vessel reportedly took countermeasures to jam the drone.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot addressed the issue while in Malmo on Friday, telling journalists that if Russian involvement was 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 was also part of the visit to the Charles de Gaulle carrier. He said on Friday that the drone incursion was "serious and maybe not surprising." 

Asked about the allegation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that he did not know about it.

Peskov said he found it "quite absurd" to claim that the drone was Russian just because a Russian ship was nearby.

The Russian ship was reportedly followed by the Swedish naval vessel out of Swedish waters until it proceeded into the Baltic Sea, Sweden's military said.

The army also accused the Russian ship of not acting in accordance with rules that apply to vessels passing through the strait in Swedish waters.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery