Norway Fears Russian Sabotage on Oil and Gas Infrastructure Amid Tensions

The head of Norway's foreign intelligence service, Vice Admiral Nils Andreas Stensoenes, has indicated that Russia is increasingly likely to sabotage Norway's oil and gas infrastructure. This shift comes as Moscow becomes more confrontational against Western support for Ukraine. Russia has denied these accusations as Western scaremongering.

Norway's foreign intelligence chief, Vice Admiral Nils Andreas Stensoenes, warns that Russia is more likely to target Norway's oil and gas infrastructure. He noted that the risk of sabotage has escalated over the past year, attributing this change to Russia's bolder stance against Western support for Ukraine.

Russia, however, dismisses these claims. The Russian embassy in Oslo argues that the accusations are baseless and serve to justify Western military preparations against Russia, particularly in Norway. Earlier assessments by Norwegian intelligence also suggest that petroleum could be a prime target for Russian sabotage.

Norway, Europe's leading gas provider and a major oil exporter, has bolstered its defenses, especially after the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage. Despite enhanced security measures, protecting Norway's extensive undersea infrastructure remains a significant challenge.

(With inputs from agencies.)