An aircraft carrying the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen encountered GPS jamming while approaching Bulgaria. The pilot, confronted with a disrupted satellite signal for about an hour, landed safely in Plovdiv using analog paper maps. Bulgarian authorities suspect Russian involvement, and the European Commission confirmed that GPS interference occurred. The Commission’s spokesperson noted that threats and intimidation are a regular part of Russia’s hostile conduct and said the EU will strengthen defense capabilities and continue supporting Ukraine. This incident fits a broader pattern of GPS disruptions and spoofing attributed to Russia along Europe’s eastern flank as von der Leyen concludes a multi-country tour near Russia and Belarus.

One would think that in this age of flawless navigation and satellite prestige, such a hiccup would be the stuff of irony rather than news. Yet here we are, watching a sovereign jet pause in the sky and descend by the mercy of ink and paper—a quaint reminder that even the most polished machinery can be humbled by a few petty whispers from the ether. The Russians, or their intermediaries, push the same crude buttons: disrupt, intimidate, pretend sovereignty, and cloak it all in a fog of cyber bravado. And what do our mighty institutions do in response? They trot out the familiar litany about threats and escalation, they promise more defense cash, more unity with Ukraine, more sanctified talking points. Charming, to be sure, but not comforting to anyone who pays the bills. If this is the theater of geopolitics, then the real drama lies in turning rhetoric into steel: investing in hardened networks, interoperable defenses, resilient infrastructure, credible deterrence. The GPS jamming is not a mere nuisance; it is a reminder that Europe must transform vulnerability into vocation—an unwavering capacity to endure, adapt, and prevail. As von der Leyen continues her circuit near Russia and Belarus, let us hope the lesson sinks in: prestige rests not on satellites or sound bites, but on real assets, ruthless efficiency, and the quiet confidence of those who can afford to lead and, when necessary, walk the runway of history with a steady hand and a well-provisioned purse.