Europe on High Alert: NATO Warns Russia After Drone Attacks and Airspace Breaches

NATO has issued a forceful warning to Russia, vowing to employ all necessary measures to defend its airspace and deter threats, following a series of escalating incidents across alliance member states. The 32-member alliance, comprising nations from across Europe and North America, held urgent talks after a Russian jet was detected over Estonia last week, coupled with Russian drones being shot down over Poland and spotted in Romanian airspace.

The stern message from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Tuesday underscored the alliance’s resolve. “Russia should be in no doubt: NATO and Allies will employ, in accordance with international law, all necessary military and non-military tools to defend ourselves and deter all threats from all directions,” Rutte stated.

The warning comes amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions, including significant drone activity over critical infrastructure. Copenhagen Airport was shut for several hours on Monday after large drones were observed circling the Danish capital’s airport, an incident Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described as “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure.” Oslo Airport in Norway also experienced a similar shutdown due to drone sightings. While no culprit has been definitively identified, Frederiksen noted that Russian involvement “could not be ruled out” given the scale and sophistication of the attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the Danish incident as a Kremlin violation on X, a sentiment echoed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who called it a “pattern of persistent contestation at our borders” and warned that “our critical infrastructure is at risk.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed accusations of Moscow’s responsibility as “unfounded.”

Meanwhile, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store also accused Russia of three airspace violations “this spring and summer,” citing instances of Russian fighter jets crossing into Norwegian territory. While not directly linking these to Monday’s drone incidents, Store emphasized that such breaches were “not acceptable,” regardless of intent. NATO chief Rutte indicated it was “too early to say” if the drone flights over Denmark were connected to Russia’s broader pattern of airspace incursions.

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