Denmark, a small but strong member of NATO, is under a strange kind of attack. This week, many drones flew into Danish airspace without any permission. These weren’t just a few small toys flying around. The drones showed up at major airports like Copenhagen and Aalborg, as well as smaller ones in Esbjerg and Sonderborg. Even military bases with fighter jets and large transport planes were affected.
No one knows for sure who sent these drones, but Denmark’s defense minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, says the attack was clearly planned. He called it a “hybrid attack.” That means it wasn’t a normal military attack with soldiers or bombs. Instead, it used different modern tools — in this case, drones — to target important places without starting an open war. Poulsen said this was likely the work of a “professional actor,” meaning a nation or group with serious resources and skill.
Now Denmark is thinking about calling for help under NATO’s Article 4. This part of the NATO agreement allows any member country to ask for a meeting if they feel threatened. In NATO’s own words, Article 4 is used when “the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of any of the parties is threatened.” Since NATO was founded in 1949, Article 4 has only been used nine times. If Denmark uses it now, it will be their first time ever.
This comes right after another nearby country, Estonia, used Article 4. On September 19, three Russian fighter jets flew into Estonia’s airspace without permission. NATO sent planes to escort them out and called the move dangerous and irresponsible. NATO also reminded the world that this wasn’t an isolated event. Russian drones had just violated Polish airspace days before, and other countries like Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Romania have reported similar problems.
This is a serious moment for Europe — and for NATO. If countries can’t trust that their skies are safe, how can they protect their people or their freedom?
Some may ask, “Why should Americans care about what’s happening in Denmark or Estonia?” The answer is simple: freedom is fragile. If bad actors — like Russia or other rogue states — can test the boundaries without consequences, they will keep pushing. And history shows us that weakness invites more aggression.
Our Founders believed strongly in national sovereignty — the right of every country to govern itself and defend its borders. That principle applies to us here in America, just as it applies to our allies overseas. When a nation’s airspace is violated, whether by drones or fighter jets, it’s not just a technical problem. It’s an attack on that nation’s right to be secure and independent.
In this new age of war, where attacks can come through cyber systems or from drones in the sky, we must stay alert. NATO was built to stand strong together, not only when bombs fall but when security is threatened in new ways. That’s why Article 4 matters. It sends a signal: we see what’s happening, and we will not sit quietly.
As President Trump continues to lead with strength, we must support our allies who are doing the same. Denmark has every right to defend itself, just like we do. If they invoke Article 4, it will be a call for unity, not war. It will be a reminder that the free nations of the world will not be bullied.
The Constitution teaches us that national defense is a key duty of government. That means watching the skies, the seas, and even the signals in cyberspace. When our friends are under threat, we should stand with them — not out of fear, but out of principle.
