Norwegian intelligence warns of rising threats from Russia, China
Norwegian intelligence services warn of the greatest threat from foreign countries in decades, identifying Russia and China as the main perpetrators.
Norwegian intelligence services caution that in 2025, the security threat to the country from foreign nations will reach its highest level in decades. Russia and China have been identified as the primary agents behind potential sabotage and subversive activities.
According to forecasts from the Norwegian intelligence agency, Russia will focus on sabotage, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and inciting social unrest. Meanwhile, China is expected to mainly act in the cyber realm, making Norway particularly vulnerable to disruptions in telecommunication networks.
Vice-Admiral Nils Andreas Stensoenes, head of the Norwegian Intelligence Service, emphasized that the Russian military intelligence GRU could be responsible for future attacks on infrastructure in Norway and Europe.
We haven't been this exposed to the effects of foreign intelligence services as we will be in 2025, said Stensoenes.
collaboration with local criminal groups
According to the report, the Kremlin uses local criminal groups to carry out hostile acts in Scandinavia. This requires Norwegian services to cooperate more closely with the police, who have more experience in dealing with criminal networks.
Beate Gangaas, head of the Police Security Service (PST), indicated that Norway's democratic institutions and legal system are particularly vulnerable to Russian actions. Moscow aims to decrease public support for aid to Ukraine by supporting entities that promote a change in Norway's approach to Kyiv. Russia may use opinion makers, fake online identities, and well-known figures from the business and cultural worlds to influence election outcomes.
Our task is to prevent foreign countries from influencing Norway's constitutional stability and security, highlighted Gangaas.
Chinese activity in the digital space
According to Norwegian services, China will be particularly active in the digital space, focusing on acquiring data about Norwegians. These activities aim to convey content that is beneficial to Beijing via popular shopping platforms.
Norwegian services also warn of the threat from Islamic radicals and the far-right, who are believed to focus on youth. Both groups will use social media for recruitment, which has already occurred in the attacks on Israeli institutions in Copenhagen and Stockholm in 2024.
