Romania's Supreme National Defense Council has authorized mission commanders to shoot down any military aircraft violating Romanian airspace, a decision announced on September 25th. This measure, with the authority to target civilian aircraft remaining with the Minister of Defense, comes amidst ongoing drone activity and heightened security alerts across Europe. In Denmark, the entire national police force remains on high alert, a measure not seen since the 2015 Copenhagen terrorist attacks, according to the country's National Police Chief. This heightened readiness follows multiple reports of drone activity over Danish airports, military airbases, and oil fields, with authorities unable to trace the operators. The incidents are being characterized as part of a deliberate Russian hybrid warfare campaign utilizing "dark fleet" merchant vessels to launch drones, creating cumulative strategic and economic costs for NATO countries. Over the past hour, Denmark has been in a state of emergency due to the drone incursions, which are considered too sophisticated for hobbyist operations. The Danish National Operational Staff (NOST), comprising representatives from national agencies including the Danish Defense Command and the Danish Security and Intelligence Service, is assembled 24/7 to manage the situation. Prime Minister Frederiksen has discussed the ongoing drone activity with the Secretary General of NATO, agreeing on collaboration for safety and security. Separately, the United States scrambled fighter jets on September 25th as Russian aircraft approached the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, a recurring event in recent days. US intelligence assessments warn of Russian plans to target and destroy satellites, which could severely disrupt military communications and civilian infrastructure across Europe and NATO. European nations are reportedly accelerating development in critical defense technologies like artificial intelligence, drones, and cyber warfare, while also investing in quantum technology as a countermeasure.
