Three-Way Spy Swap Conjures Cold War Images

The president of Lithuania announced the three-way spy swap on November 15. (LRT)

Norway, Lithuania, and Russia engaged in a spy-swap involving five spies on November 15 in a move reminiscent of the Cold War. In order to complete in the swap, Lithuania changed its legislation last week so the president could pardon the Russian spies. 

In this three-way swap, Lithuania released two Russians, and Russia released one Norwegian and two Lithuanians. The Russian spies had been convicted for recruiting upper-level Lithuanian officials. One of the Lithuanian spies, who worked for the Russian armed forces, was convicted for giving secrets to the Lithuanian government, and the Norwegian was a courier for Norwegian intelligence.  

The swap has played into broader relations among the three states. Both Norway and Lithuania are NATO member states, and Norway participates in NATO’s rotating exercises in Lithuania. The two countries share a growing concern over Russia’s aggressiveness, although Moscow says it has no intention of invading the Baltics. Moscow has accused NATO of increasing tensions in Europe by moving troops closer to Russia’s borders.

The spy swap indicates the strong alliance between Lithuania and Norway. The Norwegian prime minister said that Lithuania’s role in returning the Norwegian spy displayed the “spirit of a great ally and true friend, and we will remain grateful.” Similar sentiments were not reported to have been directed toward Russia. 

This swap also displays the lengths to which Russia will go to retrieve Russian spies convicted abroad.