Unidentified drones have once again disrupted Danish airspace, forcing the temporary closure of Aalborg airport just a day before a high-level NATO and EU meeting on countering such threats. The incident follows a similar shutdown at Copenhagen’s main airport earlier in the week, escalating concerns across Europe about a new front in geopolitical tensions. While Danish officials are treating the events with utmost seriousness, they concede there is currently no direct evidence linking the drones to Russia.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen has labeled the repeated incursions as a “hybrid attack” orchestrated by “professionals,” warning that Denmark must prepare for more such incidents. However, he stressed that while Danish forces possess the capability to neutralize drones, they refrained from doing so over Aalborg due to the risk to civilian safety. Russia has officially denied any involvement in the flyovers.
The timing of the drone sightings has intensified the focus on an upcoming security meeting. EU and NATO officials are set to convene with representatives from nations bordering Russia and Belarus—collectively termed “frontline states”—along with Ukraine and now Denmark. A key topic on the agenda is the creation of a so-called “drone wall,” a comprehensive defense system drawing upon Ukraine’s battlefield experience, which the EU hopes to have operational next year.
As Europe grapples with this emerging threat, NATO is already increasing its vigilance. A Turkish AWACS surveillance aircraft, capable of tracking low-flying objects like drones, has begun patrols over Lithuania. Not all drone alerts, however, signal hostile intent. An incident that closed Oslo airport was quickly resolved when the operators were identified as a pair of tourists from Singapore, highlighting the challenge of distinguishing genuine threats from civilian mishaps.
Adding to the atmosphere of heightened alert, a powerful explosion and fire recently occurred in an industrial area in Swindon, UK. While no casualties were reported and the cause remains unconfirmed by officials, the event has drawn attention due to the town’s strategic importance. The British government had recently announced plans to build a major drone factory in Swindon for a company that is a key supplier of unmanned aerial vehicles to the Ukrainian military, fueling speculation about potential sabotage amid the ongoing conflict.