“Belgian Military Intelligence: Russia Poses Greatest Threat to Euro-Atlantic Region”

Russia is the main and most direct threat to peace in the Euro-Atlantic region, according to the annual analysis of the Belgian military intelligence SGRS, published on Wednesday. The report highlights that pro-Russian “hacker activists” are carrying out an increasing number of cyberattacks against almost all NATO allies in response to measures that Russia considers threatening. According to Belgian intelligence, attacks have continued this year.

The SGRS indicated that the expulsion of many Russian diplomats from Belgium led to a temporary decline in “Russian espionage activities” but noted that “Russian intelligence services will be able to adapt to the changing situation.”

According to Belgian intelligence experts, Russian government agencies are also conducting “cyber intelligence” around the critical infrastructure of Western countries. Analysts are concerned that Russia could launch attacks on these infrastructures if hostilities in Ukraine spread beyond the Ukrainian theater of operations.

The report emphasizes that “the conflict between the Asian nuclear powers Pakistan and India, China’s international rise as a revisionist state like Russia, and North Korea’s nuclear developments remain a concern.”

According to the SGRS, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is “becoming increasingly difficult to achieve”. This trend undermines international relations and encourages an arms race, leading to a further escalation of international tension. For example, Iran’s ballistic and nuclear developments “could lead to significant destabilization in the Middle East region, which is of significant interest to the world economy.”

Belgian intelligence believes that China’s intelligence activities are increasingly concentrated abroad. The head of the Chinese intelligence services is a member of the highest governing body of the Chinese Communist Party, and the intelligence services receive even more government support.

“They should provide information that will help China become technologically self-sufficient, confront conflicts with the West, and secure their own global economic interests.” the report says.