Denmark Confronts Systematic Drone Incursions in Latest Security Crisis
Danish authorities have identified a series of drone incursions over Jutland as part of a "hybrid attack" orchestrated by professional actors, marking the second major security incident in Denmark this week. Defense Minister Poulsen confirmed the drones originated from "a professional party" and appeared to be part of a systematic campaign.
Airport Closures and Flight Diversions
The Aalborg airport was forced to close for three hours as multiple drones were detected over the region. Three commercial flights scheduled to land in Aalborg had to be diverted to alternative airports. Additional drone sightings were reported over Esbjerg, Sønderborg, and the Skrydstrup airbase, creating widespread disruption to Danish air traffic.
"This hybrid attack appears to be something systematic, primarily intended to sow fear," stated Justice Minister Hummelgaard during a press conference.
Security Dilemma: To Shoot or Not to Shoot
Danish authorities revealed that while they had the capability to shoot down the drones, they deliberately chose not to due to safety concerns about falling debris. Defense Minister Poulsen acknowledged that such incidents will likely continue, driven by rapid technological advancements in drone capabilities.
The incident follows a similar drone disruption at Copenhagen Airport earlier this week, which Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described as "the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date."
International Context and Russian Suspicions
The European Commission has expressed suspicions of Russian involvement in the drone incidents, while NATO has observed "a pattern of increasingly irresponsible behavior" from Russia. This comes after recent incidents where NATO aircraft shot down Russian drones over Poland and Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace.
Denmark has not yet decided whether to invoke Article 4 of the NATO treaty, which would convene an emergency meeting of alliance members. The situation represents an escalating challenge for European security as drone technology becomes increasingly accessible to state and non-state actors alike.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2583959-drones-boven-denemarken-van-professionele-partij-lijkt-iets-systematisch