Oslo: Authorities in Norway have clarified that there is no confirmed connection yet between the drone incidents that disrupted air traffic in both Oslo and Copenhagen earlier this week. While the timing of the two cases has raised eyebrows across Europe, officials insist that ongoing investigations have not established any direct link or state involvement.
On Monday evening, multiple large drones were spotted near Copenhagen Airport, forcing Danish authorities to halt all takeoffs and landings for almost four hours. Around the same time, Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport also faced an airspace shutdown lasting three hours after reports of an unidentified drone flying overhead. The simultaneous nature of the disruptions immediately sparked speculation of coordinated interference.
Speaking on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said investigators are carefully examining both cases but have yet to uncover evidence of coordination.
“We have not yet established that the investigations have made any connections between the two. Nor have we connected it to a particular country,” Eide remarked, while admitting the incidents appeared “strikingly coincidental.”
The latest events come against a backdrop of heightened concern in Europe over so-called hybrid threats tactics that include drone incursions, cyberattacks, sabotage, and disinformation campaigns, often used by states or non-state actors to destabilize opponents without triggering outright war.
Eide acknowledged this reality, stating:
“In this era of hybrid threats and potential hybrid warfare, these are exactly the things we have to look for. These incidents must be taken as a warning signal.”
Norway has already reported several airspace violations in recent months. In April, July, and August, Oslo confirmed unidentified aerial intrusions, some suspected to be linked to Russian activity. Neighboring NATO members such as Poland, Estonia, and Romania have also documented drone and jet incursions over their borders, fueling concern that Europe’s security environment is being tested through unconventional tactics.
For now, Norwegian and Danish authorities are sharing intelligence and continuing detailed probes into the latest drone appearances. While no definitive cause or culprit has been identified, both countries are preparing for the possibility that the incidents were more than coincidental.
As Europe grapples with a shifting security landscape, the simultaneous disruption in Oslo and Copenhagen stands as a reminder of the evolving challenges of modern statecraft where drones and digital tools are as much instruments of power as tanks and warplanes.