Sweden names Russia, China, Iran as top security threats

Russia, China, and Iran are the primary external threats to Sweden, the Swedish Security Service (SAPO) stated in its annual report assessing the country’s security landscape.

SAPO noted a rising threat from a Russian state increasingly willing to take risks, particularly in support of its war in Ukraine. The report highlighted Russia’s use of destabilizing hybrid operations across Europe as a key concern for Swedish authorities.

“Iran has also long been labelled a serious threat, and authorities have noted how criminal networks in Sweden, which has spent the past decade dealing with a wave of gang-related crime, have been used by state actors to carry out violent acts,” the report stated.

Charlotte von Essen, head of SAPO, emphasized the impact of regional developments on Sweden’s security environment: “The U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran, and the countermeasures carried out by Iran, have increased the threat against American, Israeli and Jewish targets in Sweden.”

The report underlines the complex and evolving nature of threats facing Sweden, ranging from state-sponsored espionage and hybrid warfare to criminal networks leveraged for political purposes, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and adaptive security measures.

By Vafa Guliyeva