Danish PM calls for strong answer from EU leaders to Russia’s hybrid attacks

BBC:

EU leaders are meeting in Copenhagen under pressure to boost European defence after a series of Russian incursions into EU airspace, and days after drones targeted Danish airports.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told reporters that “from a European perspective there is only one country… willing to threaten us and that is Russia, and therefore we need a very strong answer back”.

The incursions have become most acute for countries on the EU’s eastern flank such as Poland and Estonia.

A number of member states have already backed plans for a multi-layered “drone wall” to quickly detect, then track and destroy Russian drones.

Denmark has beefed up security for the summit, banning all civilian drone flights until Friday and placing heavy restrictions on traffic in Copenhagen.

Denmark is also hosting a broader European Political Community summit on Thursday and international allies have lent support to ensure both events pass without incident.

Copenhagen airport, followed by several Danish airports and military sites on the Jutland peninsula, faced drone disruption last week.

Ten allies are providing anti-drone and surveillance support, according to Denmark’s military, which has highlighted an “increased presence of foreign troops and equipment”. Among the countries contributing are Poland, the UK, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and the US. A German frigate has also docked in Copenhagen.

As host to dozens of European leaders over two days, Denmark will want to fend off any more unwelcome surprises in its air space.

Danish police have not found any evidence that Russia was behind last week’s drone disruption, but Frederiksen linked it explicitly to other hybrid attacks such as Russia’s drone incursion over Poland.

It was part of a pattern that had to be viewed from a European perspective, she told reporters on Wednesday.

“The war in Ukraine is very serious. When I look at Europe today I think we are in the most difficult and dangerous situation since the end of the Second World War – not the Cold War any more.”