A series of mysterious drone incursions, which forced the shutdown of multiple Danish airports and military bases, have been linked by officials to unspecified “state actors,” raising alarm within NATO about a new form of hybrid warfare. The incidents have exposed critical vulnerabilities in European airspace at a time of high tension with Russia.
What Happened in Danish Skies?
Over two consecutive nights, Denmark experienced a coordinated wave of unauthorized drone flights over critical infrastructure. The biggest event happened overnight, resulting in the three-hour closure of Aalborg Airport (used for both military and commercial flights) and the one-hour closure of Billund Airport, the second-largest airport in Denmark. Drones were also spotted near Esbjerg and Sonderborg airports, the strategic Skrydstrup airbase (home to Denmark’s F-16 and F-35 fighter jets), and other military facilities in western Jutland. The events followed a similar shutdown of Copenhagen Airport just days earlier, creating a pattern of disruption that officials call anything but coincidental.
Who is Behind the Drone Incursions?
While no country has been officially named, the evidence and rhetoric point strongly in one direction. Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, directly linked the earlier Copenhagen incident to “suspected Russian drone activities across Europe.” Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen was more forceful, labeling the recent sorties a “systematic” “hybrid attack” aimed at sowing fear and testing defenses.
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze, speaking on behalf of NATO allies, confirmed that Denmark had attributed the acts to “state activity.” Meanwhile, Russian officials have denied involvement, with the embassy in Copenhagen calling the speculation “absurd.” Despite this, analysts like Peter Viggo Jakobsen, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defence College, see a clear signature. “So the Russians – if it’s them, and I think it is – are going right to the edge of what would trigger a military response from NATO, but not over it,” he stated.
Why is This Considered a “Hybrid Attack”?
A hybrid attack blends conventional and unconventional tactics to destabilize a country without triggering a full-scale military response. These drone incursions are a textbook example. They are not an act of war, but they achieve several strategic goals: they disrupt civilian life and economic activity, force a costly security response, demonstrate the perpetrator’s ability to penetrate defenses, and spread uncertainty—all while maintaining plausible deniability. The goal is to weaken and intimidate without crossing the threshold that would compel a military retaliation from NATO.
How Did Denmark Respond and Why Not Shoot Them Down?
A key question is why Danish authorities chose not to shoot down the intruding drones. Officials confirmed that the decision was made for safety reasons. Bringing down a drone over or near a populated area like an airport poses a significant risk from falling debris. The situation reveals the tactical problem: conventional air defenses are optimized for large, high-altitude aircraft and missiles, not small, low-flying ones.
In response, Danish police have increased their presence at critical infrastructure. With ambitions to purchase long-range precision weapons and a recent increase in defense spending, the nation is also currently undergoing a significant military overhaul.
What Does This Mean for NATO and European Security?
The incidents in Denmark aren’t stand-alone, they echo Poland shooting down suspected Russian drones and Estonia triggering NATO’s Article 4 after airspace breaches. The pattern suggests deliberate probing of NATO’s eastern frontier.
The primary takeaway for the alliance, as stated by Latvia’s foreign minister, is the urgent “need to invest in ‘counter-drone capability’.” Peter Viggo Jakobsen called the situation “a hole in our preparedness,” indicating that current defenses are inadequate against this new threat. The events have sparked a political debate within Denmark, with opposition lawmaker Pelle Dragsted criticizing the government’s handling of the crisis and questioning the effectiveness of its massive defense spending. As the alliance struggles with this covert form of aggression, Denmark has not yet made a decision on whether to activate NATO’s Article 4 for consultations, but the possibility is still open.
