Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
Polish troops have been deployed to Copenhagen this week to bolster security for two high-level European summits, following a request from Denmark amid increasing concerns over recent airspace breaches involving drones.
Polish Deployment and Solidarity
A contingent of 30 soldiers from the Polish armed forces will assist in securing meetings of EU and other European leaders from Tuesday to Friday. This deployment comes as Denmark significantly escalates its security measures in the capital.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced the deployment on Tuesday. Tusk described the move as an “act of solidarity,” recalling how EU allies, including Denmark, aided Poland during an incursion of approximately 20 Russian drones earlier this month.
European Summits and Security Measures
On Wednesday, EU heads of state and government are scheduled to convene in Copenhagen for an informal meeting. Discussions will focus on continued support for Ukraine and European defense strategies, prompted by a series of airspace violations by Russian manned and unmanned aircraft in recent weeks.
This will be followed on Thursday by a summit of the wider, 47-member European Political Community, a forum established after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Polish soldiers will join thousands of Danish and allied personnel ensuring security for these events.
Danish officials implemented a ban on all civilian drone flights from Monday to Friday, effective Sunday. This decision was made after multiple unidentified drones disrupted operations at civilian and military airports across Denmark and other European locations over the past weekend.
Regional Context of Airspace Breaches
Separately, European Union member states on the bloc’s eastern flank agreed last Friday to create a “drone wall” to enhance EU airspace security. This initiative follows the September 9-10 incursion into Poland and an incident on September 19 where three Russian jets entered Estonian airspace for 12 minutes.
Moscow has consistently denied that these airspace incidents constituted intentional provocations.
Coordinated European Response
The coordinated security efforts in Copenhagen underscore a growing regional focus on collective defense and airspace integrity. European nations are increasingly prioritizing collaborative responses to evolving security threats, particularly those involving unmanned aerial vehicles.