Denmark has accused Russian naval forces of continuous provocation in the crucial Danish straits, warning of potential unintended escalation in the longstanding tense situation in the Baltic, exacerbated by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Denmark’s Defence Intelligence Service (FE) stated that Russian warships have sailed on collision courses with Danish vessels, pointed weapons at Danish helicopters, and employed both tracking radar and radar jamming in various aggressive maneuver actions. According to Director Thomas Ahrenkiel, there was at least one Russian vessel that was operating in Danish waters for more than a week, sparking concerns about Russian intentions to cloak its “shadow fleet” of oil tankers which were avoiding Western sanctions intentionally.
The FE also claimed that Russian ships have transited through with sonar and jamming capabilities evident, jamming normal GPS signaling in Denmark. These violations of international law jeopardize safety in civilian navigation and posed a notable threat to NATO’s naval operations in the region.
The Danish straits are the point of passage for thousands of vessels a year, connecting the Baltic Sea to the North Sea, and are one of the busiest maritime choke points in Europe. Russia regularly transits to the straits with their naval vessels and typically with Danish accompanying escort.
Denmark, a supportive country to Ukraine, has raised defense spending and committed to purchasing long-range precision strike options that can reach targets in Russia. NATO has increased Baltic operations, while Sweden, a member of NATO, is increasing surveillance of its waters.
Denmark’s intelligence services determined Moscow is conducting hybrid warfare employing military pressure without official conflict. The White House has deemed the incidents “a serious matter,” but stated that the U.S. and NATO are closely monitoring the situation.
