Denmark alerts NATO, EU after hybrid drone attack shut Aalborg Airport
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Copenhagen: Denmark has contacted the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU) after shutting down Aalborg Airport and placing three other airports on alert on Thursday, following unauthorised drones carrying out what authorities termed “coordinated attacks.”
At a press conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Denmark was considering whether to trigger NATO’s Article 4, describing the incident as a hybrid attack involving a “systematic approach” to flying drones near critical infrastructure, Euro News reported.
Authorities have authorised the shooting down of drones if such incursions happen again. “We are going to find the people who are behind this. We have various military capabilities that can help defend Denmark — F-35 and our frigates,” Poulsen said.
He admitted Denmark lacks the tools to counter the growing drone threat, which he called “here to stay.” The country does not currently possess a ground-based air defence system, though the government decided to purchase one this month. Poulsen noted the system would still not be fully effective against the type of drones detected over Denmark on Thursday. “There is no single capacity that will make this go away,” he said, adding that Denmark needs a range of tools to tackle incoming threats, whether drones or missiles.
The incident affected Aalborg, Esbjerg, Sønderborg and Skrydstrup airports overnight Thursday. North Jutland Police confirmed Aalborg Airport had been shut and said the drones left the area after about three hours. The police added they were closely monitoring the situation but did not disclose the number of drones involved.
Officials recalled that similar drone incursions have been reported in Denmark before, which they suspect may involve Russian interference. On Monday, Copenhagen Airport was also disrupted by a similar incident. Authorities said the drones over Aalborg followed the same pattern as those that had temporarily paused operations at Copenhagen. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the latest incursion as “the most serious yet on Denmark’s infrastructure.”
Neighbouring Norway has also been affected. On Monday, Norwegian authorities closed the airspace at Oslo Airport for three hours due to possible danger from unauthorised drone activity, Euro News reported. On Wednesday, Norway’s Foreign Minister said Danish and Norwegian authorities are working together on the incidents in Copenhagen and Oslo, but their probe has not yet established a connection.
With IANS inputs