Russia suspected of GPS interference on EU official's flight

Summary

FT News Briefing – September 2, 2025

Episode Title: Russia suspected of GPS interference on EU official's flight
Host: Josh Gabardoyant, Financial Times
Key Contributors: Henry Foy, FT Brussels bureau chief; Gloria Lee, FT South China researcher

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Overview

This episode centers around three major global business stories:

1. Suspected Russian GPS interference targeting a flight with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen onboard
2. Political and financial pressures on Israeli banks during the ongoing war with Gaza
3. Chinese tech giant Xiaomi's aggressive expansion into electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing

In addition, there's a brief segment updating listeners on the trial of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and its geopolitical consequences.

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1. Russian GPS Interference on EU Official’s Flight

Primary story timestamp: 00:18 – 05:26

Background and Event

• A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen experienced GPS jamming during a flight from Warsaw to Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
• The incident forced pilots to land manually using paper maps, as electronic navigation was disabled.

On-the-Scene Reporting [01:29]

• Henry Foy (FT Brussels bureau chief) was onboard:
  “President von der Leyen was on a seven country, four day tour of frontline states of the EU… to bring attention to the threat posed by Russia and the need for European governments to spend more on defence.” (01:29)

• As they approached Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the plane circled the airport past the planned landing time.
  “It was only when we actually got on the ground that we were told the reason for the delay was because the GPS services weren’t working… the pilot was not able to use the standard electronic navigational systems and had to land the plane manually using maps.” (01:45)

Targeted Attack? [02:27]

• Bulgarian aviation officials noted GPS was disabled only in the immediate area, and Henry reports:
  “Ours was the only flight in and out for a large amount of time. So it appears as if that particular flight was targeted with a more regional GPS spoofing or interference of some kind.” (02:42)

Growing Trend of GPS Jamming [02:53]

• Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Henry notes a sharp increase in such incidents, particularly in Baltic states and Nordic countries, with potential to cause:
  “major air crashes, there’s a huge risk to the public, and of course, there’s just disruption to normal daily life…” (03:10)

EU Response and Implications [03:36]

• The European Commission confirmed the incident as “suspected Russian interference” and highlighted broader security needs.
  “It shows the constant, daily, almost efforts by Russia to destabilize frontline Eastern European states… they need to invest in their defence and security, and not just things we think about around military and tanks and troops, but civil infrastructure and cybersecurity…” (03:41)

Calm Response Onboard [04:44]

• Despite the unnerving experience, Henry says:
  “The security personnel on the plane were brilliant in essentially remaining very calm. The President herself remained very calm. It was a clear, nice afternoon… but it is quite unsettling... Something that in some circumstances really could have endangered her safety.” (04:48)

Notable Quote

• Henry Foy: “It was unsettling for all of us on board to note that a foreign actor, and as I said, suspected Russian interference, knew that the President of the European Commission was on the plane and did something that… could have endangered her safety.” (05:01)

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2. Israeli Banks’ Wartime Profits Under Scrutiny

Segment timestamp: 05:32 – 06:46

• Israel’s central bank is pressuring the country’s largest banks to return some wartime profits, following criticism of record earnings during conflict with Gaza.
• Banks have promised relief in the form of cash, mortgage rate cuts, and other measures to ease the burden on households and small businesses.
• The episode also highlights continued Israeli military action in Gaza, mounting civilian distress, and international condemnation—including a statement from the International Association of Genocide Scholars.
  (No direct quotes—host summary)

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3. Xiaomi: From "Budget Brand" to Tesla/Apple Competitor

Segment timestamp: 06:46 – 10:05

Xiaomi's Evolution and Product Expansion

• Gloria Lee (FT South China researcher) describes Xiaomi: “I think the company initially did attract a certain type of customers, young tech savvy geeks, mostly males living in major Chinese cities… now every person I know… has definitely bought at least one Xiaomi branded product at some point in their lives.” (06:54)

• The company has diversified from smartphones into home goods and, more recently, electric vehicles.
  “Started with smartphones… relied on this huge network of suppliers and source everything externally… but [the] founder obviously wanted to change the company’s image and it started to invest in building out its in house manufacturing facilities.” (07:37)

• Aggressive expansion includes a major EV factory (opened 2020), multiple smartphone factories, and a new air conditioner plant currently under construction in Wuhan.

Strategic Shift: Vertical Integration

• Xiaomi is now building its own chipsets (“system on the chip”), joining Apple, Samsung, and Huawei as a rare example of this level of vertical integration in smartphones.
  “To achieve that, the company really wants to transform from a simple assembler to a hard tech manufacturer.” (08:37)

Challenges and Risks

• The tech market in China is brutally competitive, with persistent price wars.
• Xiaomi’s value-for-money reputation could hinder its premium ambitions.
• U.S. sanctions risk is significant due to Xiaomi’s reliance on U.S.-developed chip technologies:
  “If the US Government impose like a new or another level of sanctions, then Xiaomi’s chip efforts could hit huge, huge obstacles.” (09:12)

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4. Brief: Bolsonaro Trial’s Global Fallout

Segment timestamp: 10:12 – 11:12

• The trial of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, accused of plotting a coup, is ending soon.
• The U.S. president is attempting to pressure Brazil’s judiciary, threatening further tariffs if Bolsonaro is convicted.
• Bolsonaro, an ally of former president Trump, could face decades in prison if found guilty.

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Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Henry Foy on GPS Jamming:
  "A lot of Baltic states… have been complaining about regular use of GPS jamming, or GPS interference, which is affecting commercial flights. And some governments have even said… we're going to see major air crashes, there's a huge risk to the public…" (02:53-03:10)

• Henry Foy on the Experience:
  "It is quite unsettling, and it was unsettling for all of us on board to note that a foreign actor... knew that the President of the European Commission was on the plane and did something that in some circumstances really could have endangered her safety." (04:44-05:01)

• Gloria Lee on Xiaomi’s Ubiquity:
  "Now every person I know… has definitely bought at least one Xiaomi branded product at some point in their lives." (06:54)

• Gloria Lee on U.S. Sanctions Risk:
  "If the US Government impose like a new or another level of sanctions, then Xiaomi’s chip efforts could hit huge, huge obstacles." (09:12)

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Key Timestamps (MM:SS)

• 00:18: Main headlines and introduction of GPS interference story
• 01:29: Henry Foy details what happened on the flight
• 02:53: Discussion of GPS jamming trends in Europe
• 03:36: EU officials’ response to the incident
• 04:44: Personal reflections from Henry Foy on being aboard
• 05:32: Israeli banks’ wartime profits controversy
• 06:46: Xiaomi’s rise and business strategy (with Gloria Lee)
• 08:34: Xiaomi’s move into chip design/manufacturing
• 09:12: Xiaomi’s risks amid U.S.-China tech tensions
• 10:12: Update on Bolsonaro’s trial and US-Brazil tensions

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Conclusion

This FT News Briefing episode provides firsthand detail and analysis on Russian GPS jamming targeting a top EU official; scrutinizes the business conduct of Israeli banks during war; and offers an insider view into Xiaomi’s tech ambitions. Each segment combines on-the-ground reporting, business context, and geopolitical insight, making it essential listening for anyone tracking security, finance, and technology trends in today’s volatile world.

Transcript

[Barclays Brief Host]

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[Josh Gabardoyant]

Good morning from the Financial Times. Today is Tuesday, September 2nd, and this is your FT news briefing. A plane carrying the European Commission president is targeted by suspected Russian GPS jamming. Israeli banks face criticism for record wartime profits. And Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi is vying to compete with Tesla and Apple. I'm Josh gabardoyant and here's the news you need to start your day. Officials suspect Russia is behind GPS interference on a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von de Leyen. The plane, which was flying to Bulgaria, was forced to land using paper maps. GPS navigation services on the aircraft had been disabled and these attacks seemed to be on the rise. My colleague Henry Foy was actually on the plane with von der Leyen. He's been accompanying her on a tour and he joins me now down the line from an air base in Romania. Hi, Henry. Hi, Josh. So tell me exactly what happened? What was it like to be on that plane?

[Henry Foy]

So President von der Leyen was on a seven country, four day tour of frontline states of the eu. These are states in the east of Europe, close to Russia. And the trip was designed to bring attention to the threat posed by Russia and the need for European governments to spend more on defence. We were flying from Warsaw to a city called Plovdiv in central Bulgaria on a chartered jet that the Commission president had chartered for this purpose. And on the approach to Plovdiv, we lost altitude. We came down preparing for landing and then all of us on board realised that we were circling the airport. We had been for a while, we were way past the planned landing time and it was only when we actually got on the ground that we were told the reason for the delay was because the GPS services weren't working. The pilot was not able to use the standard electronic navigational systems and had to land the plane manually using maps.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

Do we know if this plane in particular was targeted? How does it work?

[Henry Foy]

From what I understand from talking to officials who've been briefed on it, these are Bulgarian officials involved in the aviation management system in that country. They say that the GPS system around the area of the airport was disabled. Ours was the only flight in and out for a large amount of time. So it appears as if that particular flight was targeted with a more regional GPS spoofing or interference of some kind.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

Of has this kind of thing happened before?

[Henry Foy]

This is really on the rise. A lot of European governments, particularly those close to Russia, have said that since February 2022, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, these incidents have really been increasing. A lot of Baltic states, these are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland on the Baltic Sea in the north, have been complaining about regular use of GPS jamming, or GPS interference, which is affecting commercial flights. And some governments have even said, look, if this continues at the rate, we're going to see major air crashes, there's a huge risk to the public, and of course, there's just disruption to normal daily life. People that use Google Maps or people that are trying to get around cities using transportation apps that require gps.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

What is the European Commission? What are other EU officials saying about this?

[Henry Foy]

The Commission confirmed our reporting and confirmed that this was being treated as a suspected Russian interference operation. They've said that, frankly, this justifies the trip. It shows the constant, daily, almost efforts by Russia to destabilize frontline Eastern European states. It makes clear how countries in the east can't treat this as business as usual. They need to invest in their defence and security, and not just things we think about around military and tanks and troops, but civil infrastructure and cybersecurity and things that protect the infrastructure we take for granted every single day, such as gps, airports, navigational systems. So the Bulgarian services are obviously investigating to find out exactly how this took place and exactly who was behind it. But indeed, we flew out of Bulgaria with no incident. And today I'm speaking to you from Romania, which was the final stop on von der Leyen's trip, we should say.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

You did get a comment from the Kremlin spokesperson who basically told you your information is incorrect. But, Henry, what was it like for you personally? I mean, you're on this plane, you're seeing this play out in real time. That must have been pretty shocking.

[Henry Foy]

I have to say that the security personnel on the plane were brilliant in essentially remaining very calm. The President herself remained very calm. It was a clear, nice afternoon, no heavy winds, no heavy visibility issues, and, like I said, no other traffic in the air at the time. So the pilot, in the end, had a pretty straightforward process of landing once he'd got out his manual maps and rethought how he was going to do it. But it is quite unsettling, and it was unsettling for all of us on board to note that a foreign actor and, as I said, suspected Russian interference, knew that the President of the European Commission was on the plane and did Something that in some circumstances really could have endangered her safety.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

Henry Foy is the FT's Brussels bureau chief. Thanks, Henry.

[Henry Foy]

Thank you so much.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

Israel's largest banks are under pressure to provide financial relief to customers following criticism of their high profits during the war with Gaza. Now Israel's central bank is asking them to give back some of the profits to consumers. The profitability of Israel's banking sector has become increasingly controversial since the start of the war in 2023, which has strained finances in many Israeli households and small businesses. Some lenders have promised to give back to consumers in the form of cash, mortgage rate cuts and and even bank sheriffs. Meanwhile, the Israeli government is preparing for a major invasion of Gaza City, a move that's faced harsh criticism from families of the hostages. And the International association of Genocide Scholars has said the war there meets the legal definition of genocide. China's largest smartphone maker is a company called Xiaomi. And it's also managed to gain an impressive foothold in in the electric vehicle market. Xiaomi's strategy has been to try and establish itself as a cutting edge tech company and to shake off its reputation as the maker of cheap goods. The FT's Gloria Lee joins me now from Hong Kong to talk about it. Hi Gloria.

[Gloria Lee]

Hi Josh.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

Gloria, I didn't really realize how popular Xiaomi is in China. Can you tell me a little bit about the fanfare around the company?

[Gloria Lee]

I think the company initially did attract a certain type of customers, young tech savvy geeks, mostly males living in major Chinese cities. But as the years went by and as the company expanded its product lineup to include everything from toothbrushes to rice cookers, I think now every person I know in real life has definitely bought at least one Xiaomi branded product at some point in their lives.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

Tell me a little bit about how the company has evolved over the years. You mentioned it does a lot of different products. How was it able to sort of develop and branch out into these different markets?

[Gloria Lee]

So Xiaomi started with smartphones, but it didn't have its own manufacturing facilities back then. It relied on this huge network of suppliers and source everything externally. It has been criticized of being just a merely assembly workshop without owning core technologies or core manufacturing capabilities. But Legion the founder obviously wanted to change the company's image and it started to invest in building out its in house manufacturing facilities. And since then the company has been making aggressive inroads into other areas. Its EV factory opened in 2020. Its second smartphone factory opened in the same year. And currently the company is building a new air conditioner factory in the central city of Wuhan.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

What's the company's next move then?

[Gloria Lee]

So the company has made a lot of investment into developing its own chipset. They call it system on the chip. Basically only four smartphone makers in the world have achieved such high level of vertical integration. There are Apple, Samsung and Huawei and Xiaomi is the fourth. To achieve that, the company really wants to transform from a simple assembler to a hard tech manufacturer.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

Okay, the company definitely sounds ambitious. What kind of roadblocks could it run into?

[Gloria Lee]

The competitive landscape in China's smartphone markets as well as EV market is brutal. You can see all the Chinese smartphone manufacturers and the car manufacturers are using aggressive pricing practices and Xiaomi has built its reputation as a budget value for money brand and its chipsets could still stay vulnerable to potential U.S. sanctions. It relies on the whole chip ecosystems which include some key technologies developed by the US companies. If the US Government impose like a new or another level of sanctions, then Xiaomi's chip efforts could hit huge, huge obstacles. That is the other challenge.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

Gloria Lee is the FT South China researcher. Thanks very much Gloria.

[Gloria Lee]

Thank you.

[Josh Gabardoyant]

The high stakes trial of Brazil's former president and Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro is drawing to a close. The US President has been on a pressure campaign to get the trial thrown out. He's already imposed 50% sanctions on most Brazilian exports, and a source close to the Trump administration said the White House had an extra menu of tariffs prepared for Brazil if a guilty verdict comes down. Bolsonaro is on trial facing charges of plotting a coup against the country's current president, Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva. This week, prosecutors are set to deliver their closing arguments. If he's found guilty, the ex president could face decades in prison. You can read more on all of these stories for free when you click on the links in our show Notes this has been your daily FT news briefing. Check back tomorrow for the latest business news.

[Henry Foy]

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[Josh Gabardoyant]

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[Barclays Brief Host]

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