A Very Swedish Spy Scandal
In today’s briefing- an under the radar spy scandal in Sweden and leaked Russian intelligence documents threaten to undermine Moscow’s growing ties with Beijing.
A Very Swedish Spy Scandal
Last month, a senior Swedish diplomat was found dead in his home, two days after being detained on suspicion of spying. The unnamed career diplomat had been stationed at several embassies throughout his career, mostly outside Europe and most recently, at an ambassador level.
According to Swedish state media reports, the diplomat was being investigated by state security in connection to the recent resignation of Tobias Thyberg, a former ambassador to Ukraine. Thyberg was forced to quit as national security advise just hours after being appointed when intimate photos of him from the dating site Grindr were sent to government and media personnel.
There is no suggestion of wrongdoing on Thyberg’s part, but the implication from the security services was this diplomat potentially assisted a foreign intelligence service by targeting him.
The authorities said the diplomat’s death was not suspicious, raising the potential of suicide. However the diplomat had also alleged the authorities used excessive force when arresting him and it’s believe he sought medical attention for his injuries. The prospect that a foreign intelligence service may have been involved also brings whispers about more nefarious explanations for the man’s death.
The arrest of the former ambassador does not automatically mean he was guilty. But the whole affair does raise the issue of vulnerability of diplomatic staff to potential pressure, exploitation or blackmail by foreign intelligence services.
The Swedish security service’s annual report last year highlighted Russia, Iran and China as posing the most substantial foreign intelligence threats to the Scandinavian country. No surprises there, and for most people, Russia stands out as the obvious prime contender.
Looking for more Scandinavian spy drama? Read about the Danish intelligence chief arrested on accusations of leaking ‘state secrets’ that had in fact been in the public domain for years.
Russian intelligence services call China ‘the enemy’ in leaked secret documents
Leaked Russian intelligence reports show Moscow is deeply suspicious of Beijing, despite growing political and economic ties between the two powers.
Russia’s domestic security service, the FSB- formerly the KGB- has a secretive unit dedicated to monitoring China, who it refers to as ‘the enemy’.
According to this FSB unit, China is increasingly recruiting Russian spies, targeting people with access to sensitive military technology, such as disaffected scientists.
The revelations undermine Russia and China’s new alliance. The expanding partnership between Moscow and Beijing represents one of the most consequential shifts in geopolitics in decades.
Growing ties between Russia and China is one of the most consequential global geopolitical shifts in decades China is crucial to Russia weathering the storm of western sanctions relatively unscathed- it’s the largest consumer of Russian oil and also supplies Russia with essential technology and military components. This has allowed Russia to ramp up its domestic drone production and pound Ukraine with aerial barrages.
So what to make of the FSB intelligence leaks?
Russia and China’s political leadership will continue to pursue what they call a partnership with ‘no limits’ but the FSB documents reveal deep reservations among the security and intelligence apparatus. However, that is essentially their job- to be suspicious, to probe potential threats, to look beyond public statements and to maintain a level of mistrust of foreign governments and other intelligence services.
While the security services may be skeptical of Russia’s growing ties with China, Putin runs the show and appears committed to deepening Moscow’s relations with Beijing.
