Denmark Faces Vulnerability Amidst Drone Threats

Wed Dec 03 2025 15:57:45 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Recent drone incidents over Danish airports have exposed the nation's defenses, sparking a debate on security response strategies in the era of hybrid warfare.

Denmark is grappling with a wave of drone activities that shut down major airports and military bases. As authorities investigate potential links to hybrid warfare, the Danish government and military are evaluating their response to the vulnerability these incursions represent. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen highlighted the ongoing threat from Russia, prompting discussions on enhanced defensive measures amidst heightened security concerns.

Drone incidents at airports and military bases all over Jutland, western Denmark, have not caused any harm or damage - and yet they have exposed the country's defenses as vulnerable to attack.

In an era of hybrid warfare, there is a sense of embarrassment in Denmark - a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) alliance - that its critical infrastructure has become so vulnerable.

Aalborg and Billund airports had to close on Wednesday night, while drones were spotted at Esbjerg, Sonderborg, and Skrydstrup. Aalborg also serves as a military base, and Skrydstrup is home to some of the air force's F-35 and F-16 war planes. Drones were also seen over the Jutland Dragoon regiment at Holstebro.

There have since been reports of police investigating drone activities around Denmark's oil and gas platforms in the North Sea, and near the central port of Korsor.

Aalborg airport briefly closed again on Thursday night following another suspected drone sighting, police and national media said on Friday.

The question now facing the country's military is how to respond.

None of the drones have been shot down - defense chiefs decided it was safer not to, but that is not a long-term solution.

Denmark is, of course, not alone. Norway, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania have all been subjected to hybrid warfare in recent weeks. All are on Nato's eastern flank.

Estonia and Poland have both invoked Nato's Article 4 this month after Russian war planes entered Estonian air space for 12 minutes, and about 20 Russian drones violated Polish airspace and were shot down.

The Danish government is currently assessing whether to invoke it too.

However, Frederiksen is in no doubt about the risk and said only last week that Russia will be a threat to Europe and Denmark for years to come.

While Denmark's cautious approach is markedly different from Poland's, many are calling for a reevaluation of military readiness in light of these new hybrid threats. The recent incidents have put Denmark on alert and raised the urgency for establishing a robust response framework to ensure national security.