Copenhagen, Denmark – Security tensions in Northern Europe have escalated dramatically after Denmark’s defense ministry reported new drone sightings at several military locations overnight from Saturday into Sunday, marking the latest in a series of unexplained incursions that authorities are describing as a “hybrid attack.”
The latest activity follows drone sightings over five Danish airports last week, which temporarily shut down operations and have raised severe concerns about security and suspected Russian aggression in the region.
NATO Boosts Vigilance with ‘Baltic Sentry’
In a direct response to the growing threat, the NATO alliance announced on Saturday, following a meeting in Riga, Latvia, that it would significantly enhance its vigilance in the Baltic Sea region.
Col. Martin O’Donnell, spokesperson for the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, stated that NATO would conduct “even more enhanced vigilance with new multi-domain assets in the Baltic Sea region, which includes Denmark, under Baltic Sentry.” This operation involves deploying additional assets, including surveillance platforms and at least one air-defense frigate, to strengthen the alliance’s presence along its eastern flank. Col. O’Donnell also confirmed that NATO leaders are in constant communication with Danish officials regarding the incidents.
Civilian Drone Ban and International Aid for EU Summit
As Copenhagen prepares to host the upcoming European Union Summit, Danish authorities are implementing sweeping security measures to secure the airspace:
- Total Civilian Ban: The Danish transportation ministry announced on Sunday that all civilian drone flying in Danish airspace will be prohibited from Monday to Friday to prevent enemy drones from being confused with legal ones.
- The Rationale: Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen emphasized the gravity of the situation, saying, “We cannot accept that foreign drones create uncertainty and disturbances in society, as we have experienced recently. At the same time, Denmark will host EU leaders in the coming week, where we will have extra focus on security.”
- Consequences of Violation: The ministry warned that a violation of the prohibition could result in a fine or imprisonment for up to two years. The ban excludes military, police, emergency, and health-related drone operations.
- Allied Support:
- German Frigate: The German air defense frigate, FSG Hamburg, arrived in Copenhagen on Sunday afternoon to contribute to strengthening Denmark’s airspace surveillance in connection with the EU summit. The frigate is part of NATO’s beefed-up “Baltic Sentry” activity.
- Anti-Drone Capabilities: Germany’s armed forces will also provide military support through Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) capabilities—advanced detection systems using radar, optical, and acoustic technologies.
- Swedish Assistance: Sweden previously announced that it would “lend Denmark a military anti-drone capability” to assist with the security situation.
Suspects and Retaliation Warnings
Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard has characterized the drone flyovers as an effort to sow fear and division. While no specific actor has been definitively identified, both Denmark’s prime minister and NATO’s secretary-general stated last week that Russian involvement could not be ruled out, a claim the Russian Embassy in Denmark has firmly rejected.
Meanwhile, the rhetoric from the East remains confrontational. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated on Sunday that any attempt by NATO to shoot down Russian or Belarusian aircraft would be met with an “immediate response.”
This followed a statement from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the UN General Assembly on Saturday, where he declared that while Russia does not intend to attack Europe, it would mount a “decisive response” to any aggression, including “attempts to shoot down… any object in general over our territory, in our airspace.”
The Danish government continues to work on long-term defensive measures, including proposing legislation to allow infrastructure owners to shoot down hostile drones.