Foreign intelligence threat escalates: Norway targets Russia, China
The head of Norwegian intelligence stated that in 2025, the country will experience an unprecedented level of exposure to foreign intelligence activities. According to Oslo, the primary threats will come from Russia and China.
Norwegian special services warn that in 2025, the threat from foreign countries will reach its highest level in decades. The primary threats identified are Russia and China. Moscow is expected to focus on sabotaging civilian infrastructure, while Beijing is concentrating its efforts in the teleinformatics sector.
Russia and China at the forefront of threats
Vice Admiral Nils Andreas Stensoenes, commander of the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS), emphasized that Norway will be exposed to foreign intelligence activities at an unprecedented level in 2025. He warned that adversaries are aware of the country's vulnerabilities and how to exploit them, stressing the need for readiness against unforeseen challenges.
Norwegian authorities emphasize that Russia uses local criminal groups to carry out hostile acts in Scandinavia. This necessitates closer cooperation with the police, who have experience dismantling criminal networks.
Beate Gangaas, head of the police security service (PST), emphasized that Russia seeks to weaken support for aid to Ukraine. She stressed that the PST's role is to protect Norway’s constitutional stability and security from foreign interference. However, she noted that China and Russia often operate through proxy entities—individuals who, while appearing impartial, promote narratives that align with Moscow’s or Beijing’s interests. These proxies can include online influencers, journalists claiming independence, prominent entrepreneurs, and billionaires.
Norwegian services predict that China will intensify its intelligence activities in Norway, focusing on obtaining data about citizens. Beijing is expected to spread content that is favorable to itself through popular shopping platforms. Norwegian counterintelligence believes that, in the long run, China will pose a significant challenge.
The Norwegian services also warn of threats from Islamic radicals and far-right groups, which target the youth. Both groups use social media to reach young people, increasing the risk of radicalization. This method was how perpetrators of attacks on Israeli institutions in Copenhagen and Stockholm were recruited in 2024.
