Drones disrupted flights at multiple Danish airports, prompting a government review of potential NATO involvement.
Drones Over Denmark
Drones appeared near Aalborg Airport in northern Denmark on Wednesday, September 24, forcing its closure. The BBC reported that three other airports in southern Denmark—Esbjerg, Sønderborg, and Skrydstrup—also detected drone activity but did not shut down. Earlier, on Monday, drones violated airspace over Copenhagen. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described the incidents as a “hybrid attack” using “various types of drones” by a “professional” actor.
Investigation Underway
Denmark is still investigating the source of the attacks. The defense minister stated the drones “did not come from a great distance” but emphasized the seriousness of the situation. A meeting at the EU level is scheduled for Friday to discuss strengthening Europe’s drone defense capabilities. Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Ukraine are expected to participate, according to the BBC. Denmark is also considering raising the issue under NATO’s Article 4, previously invoked by Poland and Estonia.
Russian Involvement Suspected
Similar drone sightings were reported in Germany, Sweden, Poland, and Romania, while Estonia’s airspace was breached by Russian MiG-31 fighters. BBC journalists speculate that Russia may be retaliating against Western support for Ukraine. However, Denmark’s defense minister said there is “no evidence” linking Russia to the drone attacks. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen did not rule out Moscow as a suspect.
NATO’s Response
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated it was “too early” to determine the cause of the Copenhagen incident. He warned Russia against continuing “this dangerous pattern” and affirmed NATO’s readiness to defend allied territory. In a statement, NATO declared that allies would use “all necessary military and non-military means” to counter threats from any direction.
