GENEVA: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has turned Switzerland, home to several international organisations, into a hub for Russian and Chinese espionage, according to the Swiss intelligence service, which made the announcement on Monday.
“The effectiveness of international forums for maintaining peace and security, such as the UN or the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, has continued to decline; there are no signs of a stable new world order,” stated the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) in its annual report. The FIS is responsible for Switzerland’s counter-intelligence.
Switzerland’s security landscape is predominantly influenced by the escalating rivalry between major powers, a situation further exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine. The FIS indicated a shift towards a bipolar world order shaped by the systemic rivalry between the United States and China.
Nonetheless, Russia’s incursion into Ukraine remains the central concern within Switzerland’s security environment. “The threat to Switzerland posed by foreign (mainly Russian and Chinese) espionage remains high,” affirmed the FIS. “In Europe, Switzerland is one of the states with the highest numbers of Russian intelligence officers operating under diplomatic cover, in part due to its role as a host to international organisations.”
The city of Geneva houses the European headquarters of the United Nations, along with the headquarters of several UN agencies. Numerous diplomats convene in the city for various meetings held by these bodies. The FIS highlighted that Switzerland’s current first-ever tenure on the UN Security Council “increases the espionage threat for Swiss individuals” involved in UNSC dossier work and decision presentations.
In response to the conflict in Ukraine, the FIS revealed the necessity of extending its monitoring activities to regions that have previously received less attention, including Turkey, India, and the Eurasian Economic Union. Russia has been utilizing companies in these nations for procurement purposes.
