Preparing for the Unthinkable? Russian Intelligence Activity in Finland and Sweden

2016/3/29 21:35:26

Photo: Swedish military personnel in training

 


By Aleksi Korpela, as published by the NATO Assoc. of Canada, Mar 27, 2016 

 

During the last few years, national intelligence agencies in Finland, Sweden, and Norway have become more concerned about the surveillance activities of foreign states, particularly those of Russia. The Nordic countries are of high importance to Russia’s intelligence community primarily for geopolitical, geostrategic, and technological reasons. But when taken in the context of Russia’s threats, military posturing, and military modernization, Russia’s intelligence activities portend something beyond mere subterfuge.

 

Sweden

 

Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis in 2014, intelligence officials from the Swedish Security Service have reported an increase in Russian intelligence activities in Sweden. According to the report, agents from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Federal Security Service (FSB), and military intelligence (GRU) have arrived disguised as delegates, embassy officials, and corporate employees.

 

The Chief Analyst of Säpo said that one-third of Russian diplomats in Sweden are believed to be intelligence officers. He added that expelling intelligence officers is a politically sensitive issue and a decision that is in the hands of the government, not the intelligence agency. The Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson stated, “we expect Russia to respect the Vienna Convention,” which covers the laws of diplomatic missions, but this is unlikely to change Russian intelligence behaviour.

 

The main espionnage activities include hacking, human intelligence recruitment, and accessing information on sensitive equipment, such as military hardware. According to SÄPO, these activities are directed toward acquiring advanced technology and “preparations for military operations against Sweden.” Acquiring human intelligence assets is central to gaining access to sensitive information and databases, in addition to identifying the force disposition of the Swedish Armed Forces.

 

But intelligence gathering and espionnage is only one of many indicators of an accentuated threat from Russia. In 2013, Russia conducted a mock nuclear strike on Sweden with strategic bomber aircraft. In October 2014, the Swedish Navy was involved in the search for a presumably Russian submarine in Swedish territorial waters. In March 2015, Russia conducted a mock invasion of the island of Gotland, with 33,000 troops participating in the exercise. These suggest that the military threat from Russia is a comprehensive one – the evidence of which can be seen in all facets of interaction.

 

Finland

 

In January 2015, the Finnish Security Intelligence Service (Supo) for the first time publically dubbed Russia as a surveillance state. According to an intelligence report, Russian intelligence gathering is focused on obtaining information on Finland’s relationship with NATO and the EU, in addition to intelligence on Finland’s energy politics, trade, and national security officials. Although Supo refused to confirm if some Russian diplomats were undercover intelligence officers, this fact has been admitted by other sources.

 

For complete article text, link below:

http://natoassociation.ca/preparing-f ... ty-in-finland-and-sweden/

 

Photo courtesy Army of Sweden

 

 

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