Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
European Union leaders convened in the Danish capital on Wednesday to deliberate a proposal to strengthen the bloc’s eastern defenses against Russian drone activity, following a string of airspace violations that have rattled confidence in the continent’s security infrastructure.
The high-level summit comes days after Denmark reported unauthorized drone activity that disrupted air traffic at several airports. While Copenhagen has not formally attributed the incidents to Moscow, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has pointedly suggested that Russia may be behind the incursions.
Russian drones have reportedly breached Polish airspace, while fighter jets have entered Estonian territory acts seen by many EU officials as deliberate provocations. Though the Kremlin denies any involvement, the incidents have reignited fears over Europe’s vulnerability to hybrid warfare tactics and accelerated discussions over a more cohesive defensive posture.
‘Drone Wall’ Takes Center Stage
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, addressing reporters ahead of the summit, reiterated her call for a “drone wall” along the EU’s eastern frontier a comprehensive network of radar systems, interceptors, and anti-drone technologies aimed at detecting and neutralizing unmanned aerial threats.
“Russia tries to test us. But Russia also tries to sow division and anxiety in our societies. We will not let this happen,” von der Leyen said as she arrived at the summit. The proposed wall, first floated last month, gained new urgency after an incident in which approximately 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, exposing glaring gaps in Europe’s aerial defense capabilities.
In response to that breach, NATO scrambled fighter jets, helicopters, and a Patriot missile system to intercept the drones, successfully shooting down several. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised the drone wall initiative this week as both “timely and necessary,” adding that member states must adapt quickly to emerging threats.
Security at the Copenhagen summit was visibly heightened, with European nations deploying troops and anti-drone systems to guard the proceedings. Danish authorities also imposed a temporary ban on all drone flights in the country through Friday as a precautionary measure.
Calls for a Broader Security Strategy
While support for bolstering the eastern flank was widespread, some EU leaders warned against a singular focus on Russia and the east. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed that the bloc’s southern borders also remain vulnerable, particularly to unauthorized drone activity linked to organized crime and irregular migration routes.
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed those sentiments, urging leaders to adopt a broader and more integrated approach to drone and aerial defense. “In reality, we need advanced early-warning systems to better anticipate threats,” Macron said. He also emphasized the importance of deterrence through enhanced long-range strike capabilities.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called for increased preparedness, noting, “Russia will continue, and we have to be ready.”
Despite growing consensus on the need for action, concrete details around the drone wall remain scarce. The European Commission has yet to present a finalized blueprint or cost assessment, raising questions about how such a system would be funded, where components would be deployed, and how coordination among member states would be managed.
Russia Pushes Back
The Kremlin has pushed back strongly against the proposal. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed it as “paranoid,” criticizing what he described as Europe’s “Cold War-era mentality.” He added, “As history has shown, erecting walls is always a bad thing.”
Russia has also denied all recent allegations of airspace violations, insisting its military activities in the region are within legal and diplomatic bounds.
Frozen Russian Assets and Ukraine Aid
Beyond the drone wall, the summit in Copenhagen also marks the first time EU leaders are formally discussing a controversial proposal to use frozen Russian assets held in European banks to fund a large-scale loan package for Ukraine.
The idea has gained traction among several member states, who see it as a way to make Russia indirectly finance the reconstruction of the country it invaded. Others, however, voiced caution, raising legal and diplomatic concerns.
The Kremlin swiftly condemned the proposal, calling it “pure theft.” Nonetheless, EU officials say the debate is far from over, with formal legislation expected in the coming months.
A Defining Moment for European Security
As war continues in Ukraine and hybrid threats ranging from disinformation to drone incursions proliferate across the continent, the EU is increasingly faced with difficult questions about its security posture, defense spending, and the limits of deterrence.
Whether the drone wall becomes a central pillar of Europe’s future defense strategy or remains a symbolic gesture will depend not just on political will, but also on the technical and financial resources that Brussels and member states are willing to mobilize.
For now, the summit in Copenhagen has reaffirmed one thing clearly: European leaders are no longer treating drone warfare as a future threat it is already here.
