Denmark faces a high risk of sabotage against its armed forces, the head of the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (FE), Thomas Ahrenkiel, said on Friday, warning that Russia is waging hybrid warfare against the country and the West.
The statement follows a series of drone incursions last week that forced the temporary closure of six Danish military and civilian airports. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the incidents as a hybrid attack designed to pressure Denmark without triggering open conflict.
“This means that Russia is using military means, including in an aggressive way, to put pressure on us without crossing the line into armed conflict,” Ahrenkiel told reporters.
Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said there was no direct military threat against Denmark, but officials remain on alert as security agencies strengthen monitoring of critical infrastructure.
Why It Matters
The warning highlights growing vulnerabilities in Europe to hybrid attacks, which blend cyber operations, sabotage, and disinformation with traditional military pressure. For Denmark, a NATO member with key energy infrastructure and strategic maritime routes, these threats carry both national security and alliance-wide implications.
The stakeholders include Denmark’s armed forces, civilian authorities, and citizens, particularly those living near critical infrastructure. NATO and EU allies are also directly concerned, given Denmark’s strategic role in the Baltic and Arctic regions. Russia, accused of orchestrating hybrid operations, is the central adversary.
Future Outlook
Denmark is expected to expand investments in cybersecurity, surveillance, and infrastructure protection, while also coordinating more closely with NATO allies. Russia is likely to continue low-level hybrid tactics to test Western resolve without provoking full-scale confrontation. The coming months could see more incidents aimed at destabilizing Denmark and signaling Moscow’s reach in Northern Europe.
With information from Reuters.
