Denmark’s Armed Forces reported that unidentified drones were detected overnight near key military sites. This followed several drone appearances earlier in the week around major airports and critical infrastructure across the country.

Copenhagen Airport, the busiest in the Nordic region, was forced to shut down for several hours after multiple large drones entered its airspace. In the following days, five smaller airports — both civilian and military — were also temporarily closed due to similar drone activity.

In response, NATO said it would increase its vigilance in the Baltic region using a range of capabilities across multiple domains. The additional resources will include platforms for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as at least one air-defence frigate. Specific details about which member states are contributing the extra resources were not disclosed.

These reinforcements are intended to strengthen the alliance’s “Baltic Sentry” mission, which began in January. The operation was launched amid rising concerns over damage to underwater infrastructure such as power cables, telecom systems, and gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea.

As part of this mission, allied forces have already deployed patrol aircraft, naval drones, and warships to secure vital infrastructure.

Additionally, NATO recently launched the “Eastern Sentry” mission to reinforce defences along the alliance’s eastern border. This move comes after reports of Russian drone violations in Polish airspace.

Earlier this week, the alliance issued a warning to Moscow, stating it would use all necessary tools—military and otherwise—to defend its members. The warning followed Estonia’s claim that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes before being intercepted and escorted away by NATO aircraft. Russia denied the incident and stated that its drones were not targeting locations in Poland.

Meanwhile, Germany’s interior minister emphasised the growing risk posed by drones and announced plans to bolster national defences. In turn, Russia’s foreign minister issued a stern warning, saying any act of aggression against the country would provoke a strong response.

This incident follows a recent event on September 10, when multiple drones from Russia entered Polish airspace, causing heightened security measures among NATO members. That night, at least 19 drones were detected, prompting Poland to call for consultations with its NATO allies under a treaty clause aimed at protecting the alliance’s territorial integrity.

In response, NATO launched a mission named “Eastern Sentry” to strengthen defences along its eastern borders. The NATO Secretary-General highlighted that such airspace violations are becoming more frequent, not only in Poland but also in neighbouring countries including Romania, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Several NATO members, including Denmark, France, the U.K., and Germany, have committed resources like fighter jets, naval vessels, and air defence systems to support this mission.