European Leaders Convene in Copenhagen to Boost Security Amid Drone Incidents

Copenhagen, Oct 1 (AP) European leaders are set to converge on Copenhagen this Wednesday for two pivotal summits addressing security, defense, and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The gatherings come in the wake of a series of unsettling drone incidents at Danish airports and military bases over the past week.

Denmark's defense ministry announced the installation of a precision radar system at Copenhagen airport, a measure aimed at monitoring the airspace after unidentified drones recently caused the airfield to shut down, severely disrupting air traffic.

In a show of solidarity, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK have dispatched aircraft, ships, and air defense systems to Denmark ahead of the summits. Additionally, Ukraine's armed forces have sent a delegation to participate in joint exercises, providing insights on countering Russian drones.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed her concerns via social media on Monday, noting that while the culprits behind these hybrid attacks remain unknown, “we can find that there is primarily one country that poses a threat to Europe's security – and that's Russia.”

Russia is expected to dominate the discussions during Wednesday's European Union leaders meeting, where preparations for countering Russian aggression by 2030 will be key, especially as the United States shifts its focus towards security concerns in Asia and other regions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the EU leaders via videolink.

There is growing intelligence that suggests Russia could launch an attack in other parts of Europe within 3 to 5 years. Concerns are further heightened by uncertainty regarding US President Donald Trump's commitment to NATO, with suspicions that President Vladimir Putin is eager to test the alliance's resolve.

The situation escalated on September 10, when Russian drones breached Poland's airspace, prompting NATO aircraft to scramble and successfully intercept some of the devices. This marked the first direct encounter between NATO and Moscow since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

This incident sent shockwaves throughout European leadership circles, raising critical questions about the alliance's preparedness against Russian threats. Shortly thereafter, NATO jets were forced to escort three Russian warplanes out of Estonia's airspace.

The EU summit will also delve into continuing military and financial support for Ukraine, as US contributions of funds, weapons, and ammunition dwindle.

Among the topics of discussion will be a new proposal to utilize frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, alongside other European leaders, will join their EU counterparts for a dinner of the European Political Community (EPC) on Wednesday evening, with participation from around 40 heads of state or government expected.

The EPC assembly is scheduled to reconvene on Thursday for further talks focused on security, as well as trafficking and migration. Critics, however, describe the forum — which brings together EU members, aspiring Balkan and Eastern European partners, as well as Britain and Turkey — as a political 'talking shop' that produces minimal concrete outcomes. (AP)

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