Sweden Identifies Russia as Top Security Threat Amid Heightened Tensions

Sweden's intelligence agency, Sapo, has issued a stark warning that Russia's aggressive posture towards the West poses the greatest threat to the nation's security, particularly following its entry into NATO.

In a recent annual report, Sweden's security service, Sapo, asserted that Russia now stands as the most significant threat to the Nordic country’s security, largely due to its confrontational stance against the West. The agency noted that while Sweden’s accession to NATO has bolstered its defense capabilities, it has simultaneously sparked a rise in Russian intelligence activities aimed at eroding unity among NATO allies.

Charlotte von Essen, head of Sapo, emphasized the serious nature of the security landscape in Sweden, marked by an increase in hostile foreign interventions and incidents of violent extremism. She warned that there is a “tangible risk” of worsening conditions that could be unpredictable in their development.

Since joining NATO last year—a decision prompted by the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in early 2022—Sweden has viewed this alliance as crucial to counteracting Russian threats. Prior to this, officials had indicated the potential for localized conflicts escalating to war due to Russian aggression.

Sapo's report highlighted that Russian espionage efforts are primarily designed to weaken NATO cohesion, undermine Western support for Ukraine, and evade international sanctions. Reports suggest that Russian security services are becoming increasingly bold and risk-oriented as Sweden and Europe reinforce their defense measures. The agency emphasized the diverse methods employed by Russian operatives to gather intelligence, indicating recent actions to expel Russian operatives have been taken.

Von Essen cautioned the Swedish populace to remain vigilant against widespread misinformation and destabilizing narratives. She stressed the importance of recognizing and not normalizing the current geopolitical tensions.

The report also flagged a series of suspicious activities related to critical infrastructure, referencing the damage to undersea cables and pipelines, which have raised alarms since the onset of the Ukraine war, leading NATO to initiate a monitoring operation around the region. Notably, a recent breach was reported close to Gotland, Sweden’s largest island.

In addition to Russia, Sapo identified Iran and China as significant security threats. The agency previously accused Iranian operatives of hacking a messaging service to disseminate thousands of messages during recent political controversies, which Iran has dismissed as “baseless.”

Moreover, Sapo has raised concerns about cyberattacks, technology theft, and political surveillance allegedly backed by China, which has similarly denied any involvement. The agency noted an alarming shift in the nature of terrorism threats, expanding beyond traditional ideologies to include acts of violence potentially incited by foreign states or radicalized youth enticed by violence online.

The recent rise in violence is underscored by the aftermath of a tragic incident in Orebro, where a mass shooting left nine dead, marking Sweden's worst such attack. Von Essen reaffirmed that violence from Islamist extremism and far-right terrorism continues to be major concerns. With the current threat level rated at four on a five-point scale, Sweden remains intensely focused on countering terrorism and safeguarding national security in these turbulent times.