Context: Frederiksen’s stark warning at a Copenhagen summit
At the start of an informal EU gathering in Copenhagen, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that Europe is facing a crisis level not seen since the end of the Second World War. Her remarks come as the Ukraine war persists, drone alerts ripple across the continent, and Russian airspace violations complicate regional security. Frederiksen, a veteran voice in Danish politics, drew a stark parallel between current tensions and the volatile period between the two world wars, stressing that the destabilization of society could be the most dangerous thread running through Europe today.
Her message was not a call for panic but a plea for urgent action: strengthen credible deterrence and accelerate defense efforts to prevent a slide into greater instability. She argued that history has shown how easily democracies can be caught off guard when defense readiness lags, underscoring the need for a robust and timely response to ongoing threats.
What makes the moment so dangerous
The Danish premier has cited a pattern of destabilizing events rather than isolated incidents. Recent drone alarms and repeated airspace incursions by Russian forces have reinforced a view of a broader, hybrid challenge that blends conventional and non-conventional tactics. Frederiksen warned that focusing on single episodes risks missing the larger design behind these events, which could unfold across Poland, the Baltic states, Germany, and beyond.
In her view, the danger lies less in any one strike and more in the ongoing ability of adversaries to test resilience, exploit gaps in defense, and erode public trust from within. The goal is not to predict every future move, she suggested, but to develop a flexible, credible posture that makes aggression less likely and defense more capable across the EU.
Hybrid warfare: a multidimensional threat
Frederiksen framed the security challenge as a hybrid war that requires more than conventional forces. Drones are a visible symbol of this new era, but the threats extend into cyber operations, disinformation, and other non-military pressures that can destabilize democracies. The key is to look past individual incidents and identify the underlying patterns—how adversaries seek to degrade cohesion, weaken institutional resolve, and disrupt critical infrastructure—so Europe can respond coherently and collectively.
Deterrence and defense: the path forward
On deterrence, Frederiksen emphasized the need for speed and scale in armament and readiness. Her argument aligns with a broader European push to modernize defense capabilities, reduce procurement bottlenecks, and ensure the alliance has a credible deterrent that partners trust. The idea is not to provoke arms races but to close gaps between linguistic commitments and practical power, so that threats are deterred before escalation occurs.
She also touched on the importance of integrated defense policies, intelligence sharing, and rapid decision-making. By strengthening alliance solidarity and ensuring that deterrence is visible and credible, European democracies can reduce the likelihood that aggression becomes an attractive option for aggressors.
What the EU summit seeks to achieve
The Copenhagen meeting is meant to set a course for enhancing grossly needed deterrence and defense measures. Leaders are expected to agree on closer coordination of military resources, synchronized training, and faster responses to potential incursions or hybrid attacks. Concrete steps may include streamlined defense procurement, increased investments in air and missile defense, and reinforced cyber resilience—measures designed to raise the cost of aggression and minimize the damage of any incident.
Conclusion: a call to collective action
Frederiksen’s warning is a reminder that peace and security in Europe rest on continuous vigilance and collective resolve. The Ukraine war, drone activity, and the evolving hybrid threat demand a coordinated EU strategy that pairs deterrence with resilience. As leaders gather in Copenhagen, the question is whether Europe will translate warning into sustained action—strengthening defenses, unifying responses, and ensuring that democracy remains robust against destabilizing forces.
