Denmark says Europe witnessing ‘disturbing shift’ amid Russian airspace violations and ‘unwanted drone activity’ – Europe live | Denmark
‘We are witnessing a disturbing shift,’ Danish PM warns after talks with regional, EU, Nato leaders
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen also spoke with her Norwegian and Swedish counterparts, as part of a broader diplomatic engagement this afternoon which also involved calls with EU and Nato leaders, her office said.
She said:
“At the moment, we are witnessing a disturbing shift.
Russian airspace violations. Unwanted drone activity in several European countries.
Last night was an unmistakable reminder of the time we live in. That we need to protect our peace and security.”
Key events
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‘Reason to believe’ Copenhagen, Oslo drone incidents could be connected, Norwegian PM says
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‘We are witnessing a disturbing shift,’ Danish PM warns after talks with regional, EU, Nato leaders
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‘Our critical infrastructure is at risk,’ EU’s von der Leyen says, warning against ‘pattern of persistent contestation at our borders’
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US Secret Services uncovers ‘hi-tech’ operation to disrupt telecommunications, hours before of Trump’s UNGA speech
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Poland to reopen border crossings with Belarus
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Catch up: Danish PM says airport drone incursion was a ‘serious attack’ on critical infrastructure
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‘Too early to say’ what’s behind Copenhagen drone incident, Nato’s Rutte says
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‘No immediate threat’ in Estonian airspace violation incident, Rutte says
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Nato ‘ready and willing’ to ‘defend every inch of allied territory,’ Rutte says
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Nato’s Rutte gives press conference after North Atlantic Council meeting on Estonia
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Norway says Russia violated Norwegian airspace three times this year
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Russia’s actions are ‘escalatory, risk miscalculation, endanger lives,’ Nato says
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Russia denies involvement in drone incident over Copenhagen airport
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Denmark to join EU meeting on ‘drone wall’ this Friday
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Drone incidents in Denmark, Norway fit pattern of Russian behaviour, EU spokesperson says
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At least two dead in Ukraine after Russian drone, missile attacks overnight
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Nato meeting on Russian incursion into Estonian airspace
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Danish PM says ‘cannot rule out’ Russian involvement
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Danish army involved in investigation into Copenhagen drones
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Danish authorities investigating ‘very serious incident’ at airport, note seriousness of impact on critical infrastructure
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Morning opening: Drones paralyse Nordic airports
Danish TV2 broadcaster is reporting that all party leaders have been summoned to a confidential briefing on last night’s Copenhagen airport drone incident later today.
Heads of police and security services will also take part in the meeting, it said.
‘Reason to believe’ Copenhagen, Oslo drone incidents could be connected, Norwegian PM says
Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre told Dagbladet after his call with Frederiksen that there could be a link between the drone incidents in both countries, without offering further information.
“It is deeply regrettable and disturbing. I have just spoken with my Danish colleague Mette Fredriksen. This also happened in Copenhagen. So there is reason to believe that there may be some connection,” he said, as per Dagbladet.
He also called for further Nato discussions on strengthening the alliance and its ability to tackle drones.
Reminder: earlier today, Støre revealed that Russia violated Norwegian airspace three times in the last few months (12:44).
‘We are witnessing a disturbing shift,’ Danish PM warns after talks with regional, EU, Nato leaders
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen also spoke with her Norwegian and Swedish counterparts, as part of a broader diplomatic engagement this afternoon which also involved calls with EU and Nato leaders, her office said.
She said:
“At the moment, we are witnessing a disturbing shift.
Russian airspace violations. Unwanted drone activity in several European countries.
Last night was an unmistakable reminder of the time we live in. That we need to protect our peace and security.”
‘Our critical infrastructure is at risk,’ EU’s von der Leyen says, warning against ‘pattern of persistent contestation at our borders’
Meanwhile, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a social media update that she spoke with the Danish prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, about last night’s disruption at Copenhagen airport.
She said:
“While the facts are still being established, it is clear we are witnessing a pattern of persistent contestation at our borders.
Our critical infrastructure is at risk.
And Europe will respond to this threat with strength & determination.”
US Secret Services uncovers ‘hi-tech’ operation to disrupt telecommunications, hours before of Trump’s UNGA speech
Meanwhile, over in the US, the Secret Service said on Tuesday that it had uncovered and dismantled a covert, hi-tech operation in the New York area, which had the capability to disrupt cellular networks.
The discovery came as international leaders were preparing to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly nearby, the New York Times reported.
Authorities revealed that the hidden communications system included over 100,000 SIM cards and 300 servers.
While the Secret Service hasn’t confirmed that the telecommunications threat was specifically targeting the United Nations general assembly, the agency said that the devices were “concentrated within 35 miles of the global meeting” and the investigation is ongoing.
US president Donald Trump is expected to address the General Assembly this afternoon.
More on our US live blog:
Poland to reopen border crossings with Belarus
Meanwhile, border crossings between Poland and Belarus will be reopened on midnight from Wednesday to Thursday, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said as reported by Reuters.
Poland closed its border with Belarus this month as a result of Russia-led military exercises taking place in Belarus.
“The conclusion of these exercises reduces – although I can’t say eliminates – various threats, and taking into account the economic interests of Polish carriers and railways, we concluded that this measure has served its purpose,” Tusk told the government.
Defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen told Danish reporters he was not in a position to comment on last night’s events at Copenhagen airport, as it was still “being mapped out.”
In a clip for TV2, he said that Denmark will “have to do more in relation to combating drones” and take new initiative to protect the country’s critical infrastructure.
In a separate comment reported by DR, he said Denmark already had existing capabilities to fight against drones, but declined to go into details.
Catch up: Danish PM says airport drone incursion was a ‘serious attack’ on critical infrastructure
Miranda Bryant
If you’re only joining us now, here’s our write up on what happened last night as Copenhagen airport had to close for several hours after reported drone sightings, by our Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant.
The Danish prime minister has said the country was subjected to the “most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date” after a drone incursion shut Copenhagen airport for several hours.
Mette Frederiksen said authorities were still investigating who was behind the suspected hybrid attack, but she said she could not rule out Russia.
Danish police said two or three large drones that were seen on Monday night close to the airport, which is also the main airport for southern Sweden, appeared to have been flown by a “capable operator” who was looking to show that they had particular capabilities. No suspects have so far been identified.
The drones in Denmark came from multiple directions, turning their lights on and off for several hours before disappearing.
Oslo airport, Norway’s main aviation hub, was also forced to close for three hours after two drones were observed there.
Tens of thousands of passengers were left stranded in the Nordic region by the two incidents and flights had to be diverted. Authorities in Denmark and Norway are investigating whether the two sightings were related.
Rutte also gets asked about Denmark and Norway once again, and what Nato could do to respond to these incidents.
He repeats his earlier line that it’s too early to talk about what caused the disruption (13:21), and that Nato has shown in previous incidents that it “will act decisively and quickly” and that this should provide some reassurance.
“Russians know … that if necessary, we will not hesitate,” he says.
This concludes the press conference.
Rutte keeps repeating his key line that what Russians are doing “whether intentional or not” is “reckless,” “not acceptable” and “should stop.”
He says these provocations will not discourage Nato from supporting Ukraine “if that is what they might be thinking they could achieve.”
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