Drone threats infrastructure are escalating across the Middle East and NATO’s eastern flank, prompting investors and security experts to call for increased private sector investment in defence systems. Recent incidents involving damage to cloud operations and repeated aerial incursions signal that businesses operating critical infrastructure must reassess their risk exposure and prepare protective measures.
On April 1, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened to target US-linked technology companies operating in the region, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Nvidia, according to media reports. The threat came in response to US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services cloud operations in Bahrain were reportedly damaged for a second time by a nearby drone strike amid the conflict.
Daiva Rakauskaitė, fund manager at Aneli Capital, said the conflict demonstrates how private companies providing critical infrastructure have become targets for adversaries. “Recent threats and attacks against technology companies are a clear example of how private-sector infrastructure can be disrupted alongside traditional military or state targets. With drones becoming cheaper and more sophisticated every year, attacks against private companies can become more common, and businesses should be prepared,” she stated.
Defence Spending and Investment Growth
European defence, security, and resilience startups raised $8.7 billion last year, up 55% year on year, according to a report by Dealroom and the NATO Innovation Fund. European Allies and Canada increased defence spending by 20% compared to 2024. Venture capital investments in defence startups, including those with dual-use technologies, grew to $49.1 billion from $27.2 billion a year earlier, according to PitchBook calculations.
Autonomous systems emerged as among the most funded startups, while counter-unmanned aerial systems and autonomous manufacturing are rapidly becoming investment priorities. The cybersecurity and defence sectors are attracting significant capital as organizations recognize the need for comprehensive protection strategies.
Drone Threats to Infrastructure in NATO’s Eastern Flank
NATO’s eastern flank faces particular vulnerability to drone incursions. Last year, a drone disrupted airports and Ryanair operations in Poland. In early April, Lithuanian authorities conducted exercises at Achema, the largest fertilizer producer in the Baltic states, simulating a drone attack on the company’s premises and response protocols for fire and chemical accidents.
Rakauskaitė emphasized that the growing frequency of airspace incidents should prompt broader resilience planning. “For businesses operating near NATO’s eastern flank and all to the west flank, the growing frequency of airspace incidents should prompt a broader rethink of resilience planning, from site protection to crisis protocols and insurance assumptions,” she said.
Central and Eastern Europe as Defence Hub
Central and Eastern European countries, including the Baltics and Poland, are positioned to become a dual-use defence hub. These regions possess technical talent and proximity to Ukraine, enabling real-world testing of defence technologies. A Dealroom and NATO Innovation Fund report shows that Central and Eastern Europe demonstrated the fastest growth in deal velocity for defence startups last year.
Rakauskaitė noted that companies should use the current investment momentum to reassess risk exposure. “As countries and venture capitalists invest more in defence technologies, companies should use this moment to reassess their risk exposure and invest in solutions that help protect their operations, reputation, and employees,” she stated.
About Aneli Capital
Aneli Capital is a fund management company based in Vilnius that manages the Aneli Venture Capital Fund, a €35 million early-stage fund licensed by the Bank of Lithuania. Launched in December 2025, the fund backs startups across Lithuania, the Baltics, Poland, and the wider Central and Eastern European region in sectors including information and communications technology, robotics, energy, space, photonics, and smart manufacturing. The team brings over three decades of experience in venture investing and fund management.
