The latest Sapo report emphasizes the need for vigilance amidst growing threats, including foreign intelligence activities and a potential rise in domestic extremism.
**Russia Identified as Primary Security Threat to Sweden, Says National Agency**
**Russia Identified as Primary Security Threat to Sweden, Says National Agency**
Sweden's security service warns that aggressive actions from Russia pose significant risks.
In a recent annual report, Sweden's security service, Sapo, identified Russia as the primary threat to national security, citing the nation's aggressive posture towards the West as a significant concern. Following Sweden's accession to the NATO military alliance last year, the report noted that while this membership enhanced national security, it concurrently led to a surge in Russian intelligence operations aimed at disrupting NATO unity.
Charlotte von Essen, the head of Sapo, highlighted a "tangible risk" of further deterioration in the security landscape, which may manifest unpredictably amid the evolving geopolitical tensions. Regional and foreign powers are reportedly dictating a shift towards more aggressive hybrid warfare tactics, alongside episodes of violent extremism that pose challenges for societal stability.
The strategic choice to join NATO was driven by Sweden's perception of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 as not only a threat to Ukraine but also to Sweden itself. Sweden's civil defense minister had previously warned in a January statement of the looming risk of war on Swedish territory due to escalating Russian aggression, illustrating the heightened sense of urgency surrounding national defense.
The security report emphasized intensified Russian espionage operations aimed at undermining NATO's cohesion, disrupting Western support for Ukraine, and evading sanctions. Sapo characterized these efforts as increasingly bold and precarious, particularly in light of the ongoing enhancement of defensive capabilities within Sweden and Europe.
Sapo pointed to concerning incidents involving critical infrastructure, hinting at potential foreign involvement behind several attacks on undersea cables and gas pipelines, prompting NATO to initiate a monitoring mission. The agency also reported a recent breach near Gotland, Sweden's largest island, emphasizing the continued vulnerability of critical national assets.
In addition to Russia, Sapo has ranked Iran and China as notable security threats, with reported Iranian activities involving cyber intrusions to disseminate misinformation during times of controversy. The agency's overarching 2025 report underlined the spectrum of foreign intelligence threats, which include cyber-attacks, technology theft, and the surveillance of dissidents residing in Sweden.
Sapo has flagged the ongoing high threat of terrorism, indicating a diversification in methods beyond traditional ideological motivations. The agency noted incidents wherein foreign powers, particularly Russia and Iran, appear to instigate violence through the instrumentalization of vulnerable individuals, often younger demographics with exposure to radical content online.
In the wake of the "tragic incident in Orebro," where a mass shooting claimed nine lives, Sapo reported a serious need for heightened vigilance against violent extremism. With a terrorism threat level set to four out of five, the agency reiterated the persistent risks stemming from both Islamist and right-wing terror groups, marking Sweden as under considerable pressure in ensuring national security amidst an evolving landscape of threats.
Charlotte von Essen, the head of Sapo, highlighted a "tangible risk" of further deterioration in the security landscape, which may manifest unpredictably amid the evolving geopolitical tensions. Regional and foreign powers are reportedly dictating a shift towards more aggressive hybrid warfare tactics, alongside episodes of violent extremism that pose challenges for societal stability.
The strategic choice to join NATO was driven by Sweden's perception of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 as not only a threat to Ukraine but also to Sweden itself. Sweden's civil defense minister had previously warned in a January statement of the looming risk of war on Swedish territory due to escalating Russian aggression, illustrating the heightened sense of urgency surrounding national defense.
The security report emphasized intensified Russian espionage operations aimed at undermining NATO's cohesion, disrupting Western support for Ukraine, and evading sanctions. Sapo characterized these efforts as increasingly bold and precarious, particularly in light of the ongoing enhancement of defensive capabilities within Sweden and Europe.
Sapo pointed to concerning incidents involving critical infrastructure, hinting at potential foreign involvement behind several attacks on undersea cables and gas pipelines, prompting NATO to initiate a monitoring mission. The agency also reported a recent breach near Gotland, Sweden's largest island, emphasizing the continued vulnerability of critical national assets.
In addition to Russia, Sapo has ranked Iran and China as notable security threats, with reported Iranian activities involving cyber intrusions to disseminate misinformation during times of controversy. The agency's overarching 2025 report underlined the spectrum of foreign intelligence threats, which include cyber-attacks, technology theft, and the surveillance of dissidents residing in Sweden.
Sapo has flagged the ongoing high threat of terrorism, indicating a diversification in methods beyond traditional ideological motivations. The agency noted incidents wherein foreign powers, particularly Russia and Iran, appear to instigate violence through the instrumentalization of vulnerable individuals, often younger demographics with exposure to radical content online.
In the wake of the "tragic incident in Orebro," where a mass shooting claimed nine lives, Sapo reported a serious need for heightened vigilance against violent extremism. With a terrorism threat level set to four out of five, the agency reiterated the persistent risks stemming from both Islamist and right-wing terror groups, marking Sweden as under considerable pressure in ensuring national security amidst an evolving landscape of threats.
