France, Germany and Sweden strengthen Denmark's defense ahead of European summit

France, Germany and Sweden said on Monday they would send military personnel and anti-drone systems to Denmark to boost security for this week's European summit in Copenhagen, after drone violations forced Denmark to close several airports.

Denmark will host EU leaders on Wednesday, followed by a summit of the 47-member European Union on Thursday. It has already said it has increased security around the events, Reuters reports.

Drones have disrupted air traffic at six Danish airports in the past week, including Copenhagen, the busiest in the Nordic region, which Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has called a hybrid attack on her nation.

Denmark has not definitively said who it believes is responsible, but Frederiksen has suggested it could be Moscow, calling Russia “the main country that poses a threat to European security.” The Kremlin denies involvement.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a post on social media that Sweden would send "Counter-UAS Systems," and that his country had separately sent a series of radar systems to Denmark on Sunday.

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Swedish police have announced that they would send a significant force to Copenhagen at Denmark's request and that Norwegian law enforcement officers would also participate.

France has announced that it would send a Fennec military helicopter, as well as a team of 35 people who would deal with aspects of the counter-drone work.

Germany will deploy around 40 soldiers to Copenhagen to help detect, identify and defend against drones, a Berlin government spokesman told reporters at a press conference on Monday in connection with the EU summit.

The operation will last until October 7 and the soldiers will carry the necessary equipment with them, the spokesman said.

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On Sunday, Denmark ordered a ban on civilian drone flights after several drones were spotted over several military facilities overnight.

The NATO military alliance said on Saturday it was enhancing its mission in the Baltic Sea in response to the situation in Denmark, and a German air defense frigate arrived in Copenhagen on Sunday to help monitor airspace.