Denmark’s military intelligence service has reported the highest level of external threat seen in many years, warning that the country now faces a significantly more volatile security environment as global conflicts intensify and major powers compete for influence. The WP Times reports this with reference to Reuters.
According to the assessment, Russia and China represent the most serious strategic concern for Denmark, with their actions increasingly undermining European and international security structures. The report emphasises that leading world powers are now placing national interests above collective frameworks more frequently, often using force and hybrid tools to achieve geopolitical goals.
A central factor shaping Europe’s security landscape remains Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. While there is currently no indication that Moscow is preparing a direct military strike against Denmark, Danish intelligence expects Russian military activity near NATO borders to continue rising. Analysts also point to growing uncertainty regarding the role of the United States as Europe’s primary security guarantor — a trend which, they believe, could encourage Moscow to escalate hybrid operations against member states.
The report notes that Denmark has already experienced suspicious incidents. In September, unidentified drones appeared repeatedly near strategic sites, prompting temporary shutdowns of Copenhagen and Aalborg airports. The government interpreted these incursions as psychological pressure — part of a broader hybrid campaign designed to test resilience and provoke instability.
Drones across Europe
In 2025, Germany recorded a sharp increase in unauthorised drone activity, with more than one thousand incidents logged — including flights over naval infrastructure linked to the Bundeswehr. Similar cases were reported near Brussels and Liège airports, causing disruption to civil aviation. Comparable patterns are emerging across multiple EU states, intensifying concern over coordinated surveillance and hybrid tactics.
Against this backdrop, Russian president Vladimir Putin, speaking ahead of a meeting with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, stated that Russia was “ready for war with Europe” should conflict be initiated by the West. He claimed that Moscow “does not intend to fight”, but argued that European governments were seeking to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia and were refusing negotiations. Europe, he said, had “walked away from dialogue”.
Putin added:
“Russia does not seek war with Europe — but if Europe begins, we are prepared. The moment may come quickly when there is no one left to negotiate with.”
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