Unidentified drones were once again detected flying over Denmark close to military airbases on Thursday, as a Russian landing ship, which had disabled its location responder, was found lingering in waters near the Scandinavian nation. The disruption to airport operations began on Monday night when several unidentified drones caused the closure of airspace over Copenhagen Airport, sparking concerns of Russian involvement.
Throughout the week, the disturbances persisted, and tensions escalated further on Thursday when reports indicated that Hungarian NATO fighters intercepted five Russian fighter jets near Latvia in the Baltic Sea. These incidents unfolded amidst a backdrop of growing tension in Europe following Russian drone incursions in Poland and Romania earlier in the month, along with alleged violations of Lithuanian airspace by Russian fighter jets the previous week.
Sean Maloney, an expert in Russian military strategies from the Royal Military College, noted that the heightened Russian activities were likely intended to showcase NATO’s perceived inability to act decisively. Maloney suggested that the focus on Denmark could be a distraction from Moldova’s internal affairs or an attempt to divert NATO’s attention away from Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Moldova’s President Maia Sandu raised concerns about potential threats to her country’s independence ahead of parliamentary elections, citing arrests related to an alleged Russian-backed plot to incite violence. Maloney emphasized the seriousness of the situation, highlighting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s provocative actions while operating within ambiguous boundaries.
Amidst these developments, France conducted its annual nuclear-deterrence exercise, Operation Poker, over western French airspace, as American B-2 Spirit stealth bombers participated in the U.S. Strategic Command’s Exercise Skymaster from Whiteman Air Force Base. In Canada, a parliamentary committee convened hearings to address the Russian drone incursions in Europe, with officials discussing potential contributions to NATO’s Operation Eastern Sentry aimed at bolstering air defenses in Eastern Europe.
Ty Curran, Deputy Director General of International Security Policy at Canada’s Department of National Defence, outlined Canada’s considerations for enhancing air defense capabilities in Poland and contributing to NATO initiatives. He reassured that there have been no airspace violations in Canada, with NORAD monitoring the situation. However, NORAD reported Russian aircraft operations near the Alaskan air defense zone, just outside U.S. airspace.
Expressing concerns over NATO’s response to the European airspace violations, Conservative MP Michael Chong highlighted the need for a more robust deterrence posture to address such provocations effectively. Chong drew parallels between Russian activities in Eastern Europe and recent airspace incidents in Estonia, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong defense stance.