• Swedish military successfully disrupted a suspected Russian drone near the French aircraft carrier.
• The incident occurred approximately 13 km from Malmo during the carrier's port call.
• This event raises concerns about Russian surveillance activities near NATO forces.
• The aircraft carrier is part of NATO exercises in the Baltic region.

Swedish forces disrupted a suspected Russian drone on February 16, as it approached the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier while docked in Malmo. The drone was identified and intercepted approximately 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the port. Sweden's electronic countermeasures successfully jammed the drone, causing it to vanish from radar. The drone reportedly took off from a Russian vessel operating in the vicinity, according to aa and lemonde.

Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson suggested there was a "strong link" between the drone and a Russian naval vessel in the region, highlighting the ongoing tensions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Jonson emphasized that the drone incident exemplifies the challenges posed by potential Russian hybrid warfare tactics in proximity to NATO forces, according to bbc and lemonde.

The Charles de Gaulle, making its first port call in Sweden, is involved in NATO's "Lafayette 26" mission, aimed at bolstering alliances in the North Atlantic. This incident underscores the significance of collaborative defense strategies among NATO nations in light of evolving maritime threats, reports lemonde and aa.

Military analysts have pointed out that the drone incident could signify Russian intelligence-gathering activities, especially given its timing during the French aircraft carrier's operations near Swedish waters. This situation reflects broader concerns regarding airspace safety and surveillance in Europe as drone sightings have increased near sensitive military installations across the continent, according to bbc.