Warship and soldiers deployed to NATO country after drone chaos

Around 75 soldiers, a warship and other military capabilities are being sent to Denmark to bolster the country's aerial defences ahead of two summits in Copenhagen this week. France, Germany and Sweden are all helping with the effort which comes after Denmark was rocked by a series of drone incidents last week.

Drone sightings caused chaos at a number of airports in Denmark, including Copenhagen airport which was forced to close for four hours last Monday. Other airports in the country, as well as Oslo airport in Norway, also had to suspend operations last week due to the sightings, while drones were spotted over Danish military sites on Saturday. The incidents have led to the Danish government deciding to close the country's airspace to civilian drones this week ahead of the European Council meeting in Copenhagen on Wednesday, with extra military support drafted in.

France confirmed it has deployed 35 troops, a helicopter and "active counter-drone assets" to Denmark.

Paris' defence ministry said this is "in response to the recent upsurge in unidentified drone flights in Danish airspace", adding the drones were a "serious threat".

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said his country was supporting Denmark with "military anti-drone capabilities" for the summit.

He added "a handful of powerful radar systems" had also been lent to Copenhagen.

A German frigate has already arrived in the Danish capital to help provide airspace surveillance.

Around 40 German soldiers are also being deployed to "provide support in the detection, identification, and defence against drones", a Berlin official said on Monday, according to POLITICO.

Meanwhile, NATO has strengthened its mission in the Baltic Sea following the drone disruption in Denmark.

Denmark currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council, with Copenhagen also set to hold a meeting of the European Political Community on Thursday.

The country's defence minister last week called the drone incidents a "hybrid attack".

Speaking on Thursday, Troels Lund Poulsen said it appeared a "professional actor" was behind the "systematic" flights.

Days earlier, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Russia could be responsible for the Copenhagen airport incident.

An investigation into who is responsible for the sightings is ongoing and Russia has rejected claims of any involvement.

It comes after Russian fighter jets and around 20 drones violated Estonian and Polish airspace respectively earlier this month.

Romania has also reported a Russian drone incursion in recent weeks.