Credited from: CHANNELNEWSASIA
Denmark has announced a ban on all civilian drone flights across the country ahead of an EU summit in Copenhagen, set for Wednesday and Thursday. This decision follows a wave of drone sightings over military sites that prompted heightened security concerns. Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen stated that the ban, lasting from Monday through Friday, aims to "remove the risk that enemy drones can be confused with legal drones," citing the potential disruptions caused by unauthorized drones as unacceptable according to Le Monde.
The Danish Defense Ministry confirmed repeated sightings of drones near several military facilities, with reports indicating that these incidents led to temporary shutdowns of both civilian and military airports. The military has ramped up its alertness in light of these intrusions, with Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen labeling the situation as a manifestation of a "hybrid war". These recent events have drawn increasing scrutiny and concern as tensions in Northern Europe rise, particularly amid ongoing geopolitical instability involving Russia, as outlined by South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.
To assist with security during the summit, neighboring countries including Sweden and Germany have offered military support. Sweden has deployed anti-drone systems and additional radar capabilities, while Germany has sent personnel and an air defense frigate as part of NATO's enhanced vigilance measures in the Baltic region. French forces have also joined this effort, deploying a joint armed forces detachment to assist in counter-drone operations, highlighting European solidarity in facing security threats, as reported by AA and Al Jazeera.
The drone incursions happen against a backdrop of increased military tensions in Europe, with Danish officials pointing fingers at possible Russian involvement in these drone activities. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has indicated that these actions could be part of a systematic operation aimed at threatening European security, although the Kremlin has denied any involvement in these incidents, as stated by Los Angeles Times and BBC.
Authorities in Denmark are monitoring public reports of drone activity, with citizens encouraged to report suspicious sightings. The Danish police have received numerous reports, most of which have not led to confirmed findings, reflecting the ongoing anxiety and vigilance surrounding aerial incursions amid the EU summit preparations, according to South China Morning Post and AA.