Danish military airbases encountered additional unidentified drones on Thursday night, coinciding with the presence of a Russian landing ship operating with its location responder disabled in waters near Denmark. The disruption to airport activities began on Monday evening when multiple unidentified drones caused the closure of airspace over Copenhagen Airport, sparking concerns of potential Russian involvement.
The tension escalated as reports emerged on Thursday indicating that Hungarian NATO fighters intercepted five Russian fighter jets near Latvia in the Baltic Sea. These events unfolded amidst heightened unease in Europe following recent instances of Russian drone infiltrations in Poland and Romania, as well as alleged airspace violations by Russian fighter jets in Lithuania.
Sean Maloney, an expert in Russian military strategy from the Royal Military College, interpreted the increased pressure from Russia as a deliberate move to showcase NATO’s perceived limitations and divert attention from other geopolitical activities. Maloney highlighted the significance of the situation, suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions are aimed at testing boundaries while operating in a gray area.
In Moldova, President Maia Sandu raised concerns about potential threats to the country’s independence ahead of parliamentary elections, with authorities arresting numerous individuals suspected of involvement in a purported scheme supported by Russia to incite unrest. These developments underscore the seriousness of the situation, according to Maloney.
Meanwhile, France conducted its annual nuclear deterrence exercise, Operation Poker, in its western airspace, while the United States deployed B-2 Spirit stealth bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base for the U.S. Strategic Command’s Exercise Skymaster. Canada also responded by convening a parliamentary committee to investigate the Russian drone incidents in Europe and assess potential contributions to NATO’s Operation Eastern Sentry, which aims to enhance air defenses in Eastern Europe.
Ty Curran, Deputy Director General of International Security Policy at the Department of National Defence, emphasized Canada’s collaboration with NATO to bolster air defense capabilities and address the evolving security landscape. While there have been no airspace breaches in Canada, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) continues to monitor the situation, with recent reports of Russian aircraft operating near the Alaskan air defense zone.
Amidst these developments, concerns were raised by Conservative MP Michael Chong regarding NATO’s response to the incursions in European airspace, suggesting the need for stronger deterrent measures to address the challenges posed by Russian activities in the region. Chong highlighted the importance of maintaining a robust defense posture to prevent further escalations similar to recent airspace violations in Estonia.