Photo: michaellongmire
The threat is mainly aimed at companies and research institutions that supply products, knowledge or services which other countries need to build their military capability. This may include high-tech knowledge suitable for developing weapons of mass destruction or missile systems.
Technology for arms production or military programmes
PET assesses that states like Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, North Korea and Syria actively attempt to procure or redirect Danish products and technology for use in their arms production or military programmes.
Illegal procurement occurs for instance when Danish companies export goods or provide technical assistance which, through intermediaries, end up in the wrong hands. It can be quite difficult to detect if the recipient of a product is cooperating with the military of a foreign country if the actual recipient is hiding behind one or more front companies, for example. Illegal procurement may also occur with products from Denmark being sent to intermediate destinations before they end up with the actual recipient, or with researchers transferring knowledge in good faith from research institutions in Denmark to research communities that contribute to foreign arms programmes.
PET is cooperating closely with Danish and foreign authorities to ensure that Danish companies and organizations do not become involved in illegal export of goods or knowledge or other illegal services.
Foreign direct investments
The threat to Denmark can also take the form of foreign direct investments by state actors with non-commercial intentions.
The security-related implications of such investments may be serious and could affect long-term structural factors that may undermine the resilience and interests of society. This includes investments that allow access to Danish technological developments, cause loss of control over part of the Danish critical infrastructure or lead to an unfavourable economic dependency on a foreign state.