Copenhagen – Sweden will provide Denmark with military anti-drone capabilities during this week’s summits in Copenhagen, following last week’s drone sightings that resulted in the closure of several airports, reports 24brussels.
Denmark is set to host European Union leaders on Wednesday, followed by a broader summit of the European Political Community on Thursday. In response to the drone incursions, Denmark has heightened security measures surrounding both events.
To bolster safety during the summits, Denmark declared on Sunday the closure of its airspace to all civilian drone operations until Friday, aiming to prevent potential misidentifications of hostile drones as legal ones.
Why does Sweden link drone activity to Russian actors?
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that Russia is likely behind the recent drone activity over multiple Scandinavian airports, coinciding with the upcoming EU summit in Copenhagen. Speaking to broadcaster TV4, he noted, “The likelihood of this being about Russia wanting to send a message to countries supporting Ukraine is quite high,” although he acknowledged, “nobody really, really knows.”
He also affirmed that there is “confirmation” that drones that violated Polish airspace in September were indeed Russian. “Everything points to (Russia), but then all countries are cautious about singling out a country if they are not sure. In Poland, we know that’s what it was,” he added.
What recent disruptions have drones caused at airports in Denmark?
The incidents followed the closure of Copenhagen Airport, Scandinavia’s busiest, last Monday evening due to drone sightings. Subsequently, drones were spotted at Aalborg, Esbjerg, and Sonderborg airports, as well as at Skrydstrup air base, prompting urgent actions from authorities.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the occurrences as “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date.”
Which other European nations have also reported unidentified drone activity?
Several NATO and European nations have reported similar sightings and disturbances caused by unidentified drones. The initial intrusion occurred in Poland, leading to the temporary closure of Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, a key transit hub for military aid to Ukraine. Unidentified drones were also observed over the Murmelon-le-Grand military base in the Marne department of France.
Drones have been spotted around the naval base at Karlskrona, Sweden, and in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, near the Danish border.
