COPENHAGEN – European leaders are arriving in the Danish capital for two consecutive high-stakes summits focused squarely on continental security, defense cooperation, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The gatherings take place under a cloud of heightened alert, following a series of unsettling and unresolved drone incidents targeting Danish critical infrastructure over the past week.
The palpable tension was underscored by Denmark’s defense ministry, which announced the deployment of a precision radar system at Copenhagen Airport to bolster surveillance. The move comes after unidentified drones forced a temporary but disruptive closure of the airfield, disrupting travel and raising alarms about the vulnerability of key installations.
In a powerful display of allied solidarity, several European nations—including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom—have dispatched aircraft, naval vessels, and advanced air defense systems to Denmark to secure the airspace and periphery during the leaders’ meetings. Adding a poignant layer of expertise, Ukraine’s armed forces have sent a contingent to participate in joint exercises, sharing their hard-won, real-world knowledge in countering the very Russian drone tactics that now concern the region.
While stopping short of a formal accusation, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pointed squarely at Moscow. “We can’t conclude who is behind the hybrid attacks,” she stated on social media, “but we can see that there is primarily one country that poses a threat to Europe’s security – and that’s Russia.”
A Continent on Edge: Testing NATO’s Resolve
The sense of a direct Russian challenge was amplified by a serious incident on September 10, when several Russian drones breached Polish airspace. NATO aircraft were scrambled, intercepting and shooting down some of the intruders. This marked the first direct military encounter between the alliance and Russian forces since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
The breach sent a jolt through European capitals, forcing a urgent reassessment of NATO’s readiness. Days later, the alliance was again in action, escorting three Russian warplanes out of Estonian airspace. These events have crystallized a growing fear among intelligence services: that a resurgent Russia could mount a military assault elsewhere in Europe within the next three to five years.
This assessment is fueled by a belief that President Vladimir Putin is intent on testing NATO’s unity and military resolve, a task potentially made easier by lingering doubts over the commitment to the alliance from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Summit Agendas: From Long-Term Defense to Immediate Aid for Ukraine
The first meeting, a gathering of European Union leaders on Wednesday, will have Russia as its central focus. Discussions are expected to center on the EU’s strategic plan to make Europe capable of fending off Russian aggression by 2030. This long-term vision is driven by the pressing need for “European strategic autonomy,” as the United States increasingly pivots its security focus toward Asia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to address the EU leaders by videolink, providing a stark reminder of the ongoing conflict’s human and economic costs. The talks will also grapple with the immediate challenge of sustaining military and financial support for Ukraine, as the flow of weapons and funds from the United States has stalled in Congress. A key proposal on the table involves finding legal pathways to utilize the billions in frozen Russian central bank assets to aid Ukraine’s reconstruction and defense.
On Wednesday evening, the scope widens with a dinner of the European Political Community (EPC), where UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and around 40 other leaders from across the continent will join their EU counterparts. The EPC summit continues on Thursday, broadening the agenda to include security, trafficking, and migration.
However, the EPC forum—which brings together EU members, aspiring partners from the Balkans and Eastern Europe, as well as Britain and Turkiye—faces criticism from some quarters. Detractors label it a political “talking shop” that generates ample dialogue but delivers few tangible results. In the current climate of clear and present danger, the pressure is on for these summits to prove their critics wrong and produce a concrete, unified response to the threats at Europe’s doorstep.
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