Denmark issued an immediate ban on all civilian drone flights as a wave of overnight drone sightings at military installations worried officials ahead of a major European Union summit in Copenhagen.
Authorities cited elevated risks of misidentifying hostile drones among legal traffic and responded by tightening airspace controls to protect EU leaders gathering this week.
Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen confirmed the civilian drone ban will be enforced nationwide Monday through Friday, coinciding with both the informal European Council meeting and a summit of the European Political Community. Offenders may face fines or even jail as Denmark ramps up preventive measures.
What Sparked Denmark’s Drone Ban
Military officials observed drones over several sensitive bases for the second consecutive night, following an initial incident on September 22 that shut down Copenhagen Airport for four hours.
The Defense Ministry deployed specialist response teams after subsequent sightings at facilities in Aalborg, Billund, Esbjerg, Sønderborg, and the Skrydstrup base.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen labeled the incidents as “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date,” positioning the sightings as a potentially systematic hybrid threat.
Although the government stopped short of pointing to a specific perpetrator, Russian involvement remains suspected despite official denials.
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Denmark currently holds the rotating EU presidency for the second half of 2025, making security at the Copenhagen summit especially crucial for EU diplomacy.
How Is Denmark Responding to Drone Sightings
Officials declined to share specific details about deployments and risk assessments, but confirmed that active monitoring of airspace and installations is ongoing.
The Defense Ministry highlighted increased readiness measures, while the national ban is designed to eliminate confusion between foreign and domestic drone activity.
Denmark has coordinated with civilian airports and security services to ensure that drone operations are halted nationwide, while quickly tracing and investigating any unauthorized aerial activity to pinpoint risks before EU leadership visits.
Why Is the EU Summit Driving Security Actions
The timing of the ban coincides with two major meetings in Copenhagen, with Denmark hosting the European Council and the 47-member European Political Community.
The events bring dozens of European leaders to the capital, amplifying concerns about potential attacks or disruptions using drones.
As the rotating EU presidency, Denmark is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of summits and preventing airspace violations or hybrid attacks from compromising diplomatic security.
The government prioritized a strong response to avoid previous incidents disrupting travel or government activity.
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What Measures Are NATO and Neighbors Taking
NATO increased regional surveillance through its Baltic Sentry mission in recent days, deploying a German air defense frigate to Copenhagen to monitor airspace and support local military operations.
Sweden pledged to supply Denmark with counter-UAS systems and radar equipment. These actions demonstrate heightened cooperation among northern European allies and partners to mitigate security vulnerabilities.
Multinational teams are working to identify threat patterns and safeguard both summit areas and critical infrastructure.
Could This Signal Broader Regional Tensions
While Danish officials have not fully identified the perpetrators, recent events echo Russian drone incursions reported in Polish and Estonian airspace, underlining broader regional concerns.
Escalating technology use in hybrid warfare and evidence of coordinated incidents have raised alarm throughout NATO states bordering the Baltic Sea.
As regional incidents increase, Denmark’s quick and sweeping drone flight ban signals both its intent to prevent future attacks and its central role in EU security planning.
Enhanced NATO operations and support from neighboring nations will remain crucial as European nations adapt to new aerial challenges.
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