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 warplanes. 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 reported.
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. The government recently announced plans for an integrated layered air defense, along with investment in long-range precision weapons.
Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen characterized the events as 'systematic' and indicative of a hybrid attack, although no concrete evidence has tied any external actors to the incidents.
As concerns grow, Denmark is not alone in facing such threats; other NATO member states have experienced similar incursions. With rising tensions and an evolving security landscape, Denmark's political leaders are under pressure to reassess their defensive protocols and ensure public safety in the face of these emerging challenges.
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 warplanes. 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 reported.
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. The government recently announced plans for an integrated layered air defense, along with investment in long-range precision weapons.
Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen characterized the events as 'systematic' and indicative of a hybrid attack, although no concrete evidence has tied any external actors to the incidents.
As concerns grow, Denmark is not alone in facing such threats; other NATO member states have experienced similar incursions. With rising tensions and an evolving security landscape, Denmark's political leaders are under pressure to reassess their defensive protocols and ensure public safety in the face of these emerging challenges.
