Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap!
Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen warned that countries were facing a “disturbing shift” after years of peace after drones were seen over Copenhagen airport last night, paralysing its operations for hours (15:28)
Frederiksen said she couldn’t rule out any scenario as speculations mounted over whether the incident could be linked with Russia amid growing provocations towards EU and Nato member states (9:46, 10:47, 10:52, 12:11, 13:21, 14:14).
For what it’s worth, Russia has denied it was connected to the incident, criticising what it said was “unfounded accusations” (12:17), even as the EU said it fitted the pattern of Russian behaviour (12:11).
At the same time,
Nato’s North Atlantic Council, which brings together all the allies, said it “strongly condemns” Russia’s “dangerous” violation of Estonian airspace last week, warning of a “wider pattern of increasingly irresponsible Russian behaviour,” as it warned about the risk of escalation and miscalculation (12:33).
Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte insisted the alliance was “ready and willing” to “defend every inch of allied territory,” (13:08, 13:11) as he said the Russian behaviour was “reckless,” “not acceptable,” and “should stop” (13:23).
Norway disclosed that Russia violated its airspace three times over the last few months, calling the incidents out as “not acceptable” (12:44).
Lithuania’s parliament granted the country’s armed forces powers to shoot down any unmanned drone violating its airspace following recent incidents of Russian drones coming on its territory (18:23).
Elsewhere,
US president Donald Trump delivered a blistering criticism of Europe in his UN general assembly speech, attacking European countries for their migration and climate policies and criticising for “embarrasing” purchases of Russian energy (summary 17:27).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at [email protected].
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Lithuania authorises army to shoot down drones violating its airspace
Meanwhile in Vilnius, Lithuania’s parliament granted the Baltic country’s armed forces powers to shoot down any unmanned drone violating its airspace following incidents in which it said two Russian drones crashed on its territory, Reuters reported.
Lithuania’s army is currently able to target drones only if they are determined to be armed or pose an imminent danger to objects important to the state.
This will change under a law that was passed with the backing of 117 of the 141 members of Lithuanian parliament under emergency procedures and will be valid in the Nato and European Union member state from October.
The new law authorises Lithuania’s chief of defence to close down parts of Lithuanian airspace and to shoot down any drone inside “which violates rules set out by the chief of defence“.
