Russia, like China, “carries out activities that threaten security in the northern tip of Sweden,” SÄPO writes in its annual threat assessment report
The Swedish intelligence services (SÄPO) warned today of the territorial threat posed by Russian espionage, particularly in the Arctic, ahead of Sweden’s possible NATO membership.
Sweden ended two centuries of military neutrality by applying to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine. For its accession, a vote in the Hungarian parliament is expected to take place on Monday, which constitutes the last hurdle.
Russia, like China, “conducts activities that threaten security in the northern tip of Sweden,” SÄPO writes in its annual threat assessment report.
The accession of Finland, and the expected one of Sweden, extends the borders of the North Atlantic Alliance to the Arctic regions.
“Russia’s interest in northern Sweden is primarily about Swedish military capabilities,” SÄPO continues.
Intelligence chief Charlotte von Essen said the security situation has worsened since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
“Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine continues, the situation in the Middle East is serious after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and, in Sweden, we raised the terrorist threat level last year,” he told reporters.
SÄPO estimates that the activities that threaten the country’s security “are being carried out on a large front and foreign forces are acting aggressively”.
The agency mainly cites the illegal acquisition of technologies that may be of interest to Russia’s military intelligence service.
Sergei Skvortsov, a 60-year-old Russian-Swedish man, was brought to trial for illegally transferring Western technology to Russia. The court acknowledged that the man had exported this material but released him, ruling that espionage had not been proven.
In January 2023, a former Swedish intelligence agent, Peiman Kia, was sentenced to life in prison for spying for Russia.
On Monday, Sweden’s military intelligence and security agency (MUST) also cited Russia as the biggest threat.
“As long as the war in Ukraine continues, Russia will focus its resources there, but it would be a mistake to think that a temporary reduction in Russian capabilities in our region offers us a respite,” MUST chief Thomas Nilsson said in a announcement.
SÄPO also warned about the activities of China’s and Iran’s intelligence services.
China is acquiring “Swedish innovations, technological know-how and cutting-edge knowledge in industry and universities,” according to the report.
Source :Skai
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