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Joining NATO Makes Finland Target 09/29 06:15
HELSINKI (AP) -- Finland's future NATO membership will make the Nordic
country a more interesting target for Russian intelligence and influencing
operations, and Moscow may seek to acquire NATO-related intelligence through
its neighbor, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service said on Thursday.
In its national security review, the agency known by the abbreviation SUPO
said that Russia has turned to the cyber environment and other intelligence
sources, including foreigners living in Russia, as it is facing obstacles with
its human intelligence operations in the West.
"The main intelligence gathering approach traditionally applied by the
Russian intelligence services is human intelligence under diplomatic cover,"
SUPO said. "This has become substantially more difficult since Russia launched
its war of aggression in Ukraine, as many Russian diplomats have been expelled
from the West."
The agency said the Russian security and intelligence services are
increasingly targeting foreigners who reside in or visit Russia. Russians
working in the West may also be a target of intelligence gathering when
visiting their home country, it said.
The threat of corporate espionage by Russia is also increasing as sanctions
set by the West on Russia necessitate Moscow's launch of high-technology
manufacturing to replace imports, the agency said. It added that "this places a
particular premium on data security in Finnish businesses".
Finland, a nation of 5.5 million, applied for membership in NATO together
with Sweden in May. It shares a 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) land border with
Russia, the longest of any European Union member.
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