Denmark has announced a temporary ban on all civilian drone flights in its airspace from Monday to Friday as the country prepares to host the upcoming European Union Summit in Copenhagen.

The measure aims to “remove the risk that enemy drones can be confused with legal drones and vice versa,” the Danish transportation ministry said Sunday.

The ban comes after multiple drone sightings over Danish military facilities in recent days, prompting heightened security measures. Danish Transportation Minister Thomas Danielsen emphasized the need for vigilance: “We cannot accept that foreign drones create uncertainty and disturbances in society, as we have experienced recently. At the same time, Denmark will host EU leaders in the coming week, where we will have extra focus on security.”

Violating the prohibition can result in fines or imprisonment of up to two years. Exemptions apply to military drones and those operated by state aviation, including police, emergency services, and regional health operations.

The Danish Defence Ministry confirmed further drone sightings at armed forces locations on Sunday, following previous incidents over the weekend. In response, NATO officials announced increased surveillance measures in the Baltic region. Col. Martin O’Donnell, spokesperson for Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, said after a NATO meeting in Riga on Saturday that “we will conduct even more enhanced vigilance with new multi-domain assets in the Baltic Sea region, which includes Denmark, under Baltic Sentry.” NATO leaders remain in constant contact with Danish officials regarding the sightings.

In addition, Denmark has welcomed the German air defence frigate FSG Hamburg to Copenhagen. The Danish Defence Ministry stated that the frigate will strengthen airspace surveillance for the EU Summit and is part of NATO’s Baltic Sentry initiative, designed to bolster the alliance’s eastern flank. Germany has also committed to providing Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) capabilities, which include radar, optical, and acoustic detection systems to counter drones. Sweden has similarly pledged military anti-drone support.

Tensions in Denmark have risen following the drone incidents, which previously forced temporary closures of airports. Danish Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard warned that the flyovers appear designed to “sow fear and division” and said the country is considering legislation allowing infrastructure owners to neutralize drones.

While the perpetrators of the drone activity remain unidentified, both the Danish Prime Minister and NATO Secretary-General have stated that Russian involvement cannot be ruled out. (ILKHA)