Drone Panic: Denmark Bans All Civilian Flights Ahead of EU Summit After ‘Hybrid Attack’

Drone Panic: Denmark Bans All Civilian Flights Ahead of EU Summit After ‘Hybrid Attack’

 

Denmark has imposed a complete, nationwide ban on all civilian drone flights, effective until October 3, citing severe security concerns ahead of an upcoming European Union summit in Copenhagen.

The decision by the Transport Ministry follows a week of multiple, suspicious drone sightings over the country’s sensitive infrastructure and military sites, which the Danish Defence Minister has publicly labeled a “hybrid attack” and a “systematic operation.”

 

Security Rationale and Incidents

 

• Security Simplification: The ban aims to “simplify security work” for police during the high-security event and “remove the risk that enemy drones can be confused with legal drones.”
• Disruptions: Since September 22, unidentified drones have caused temporary closures at major facilities, including the Copenhagen, Aalborg, and Billund airports. The latest sightings occurred above Danish military locations as recently as Saturday.
• Motive: Danish authorities have not identified those responsible, though Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen suggested that Russia, which denies involvement, could be responsible, calling it the main “country that poses a threat to Europe’s security.”

 

Coordinated European Response

 

The Danish situation mirrors a rise in similar airspace violations across Europe, prompting a joint defense strategy:

• ‘Drone Wall’ Initiative: Defence ministers from ten EU countries have agreed to prioritize the creation of a “drone wall”—a system of advanced detection and interception capabilities—along the bloc’s eastern borders to counter the mounting threat of aerial incursions.
• NATO Vigilance: NATO has responded by announcing “enhanced vigilance” across the Baltic, including the deployment of a German air defense frigate to Copenhagen to boost airspace surveillance during the summit.
• Regional Incidents: Over the weekend, neighboring Norway and Romania also reported separate drone incidents, underlining the coordinated nature of the security threat across the region.

The upcoming EU summit, which Denmark is hosting as the rotating Council President, is expected to center on collective defense strategies in light of the repeated security challenges.

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