Copenhagen | Danish intelligence is worried about an increase in espionage on Scandinavian soil in a report released Thursday, when the head of military intelligence is in prison, accused of leaking confidential documents.
“A number of foreign states are actively carrying out intelligence activities against Denmark, and the threat of espionage has increased in recent years,” the intelligence services (PET) summed up in a statement.
This threat, which covers espionage, influence activities, harassment, attempts to illegally acquire products, technologies and knowledge and, in exceptional cases, assassination attempts, also extends to the territories. Danish autonomous countries (Faroe Islands and Greenland) in particular because of the interest in the Arctic.
According to the report, the threat comes mainly from Russia, China and Iran.
“China is making great efforts to transfer advanced technology and knowledge to China,” PET counter-intelligence chief Anders Henriksen told the Politiken daily.
According to him, the threat is latent in some university exchanges.
“Certain types of research which, even at a very early stage, could be used for military purposes, could be problematic,” he stressed.
At the beginning of the summer, “Politiken” revealed that at least 30 researchers in Denmark had been recruited under the Chinese “1000 Talents” program.
The Danish intelligence services are in the spotlight.
According to a survey by Danish public television Danmarks Radio (DR) broadcast in May, Washington used the Danish submarine cable network until at least 2014 to listen to personalities from four countries (Germany, Sweden, Norway, France), among which Angela Merkel.
In addition, Danish military intelligence chief Lars Findsen has been jailed for a month for leaking confidential documents.
The investigation is being carried out behind closed doors but, according to the local press, the case relates in particular to leaks of classified information to Danish media.