Ukraine war has made Switzerland a hub for Chinese, Russian spies: Swiss intelligence
- The Swiss intelligence service said the ‘threat to Switzerland posed by foreign [mainly Russian and Chinese] espionage remains high’
- The Swiss secret service said it was shifting towards a bipolar world order shaped by the US-China rivalry, but Russia’s war in Ukraine would remain a focal point
“Russia has destroyed the rules-based order for peace in Europe,” the Federal Intelligence Service said in its annual report. The FIS is in charge of Switzerland’s counter-intelligence.
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“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 United Nations’ European headquarters is located in Geneva, as are the headquarters of several UN agencies.
Hundreds of diplomats gather in the city to take part in those bodies’ various meetings.
Switzerland’s current first-ever spell on the UN Security Council “increases the espionage threat for Swiss individuals” working on the UNSC dossiers and presenting decisions, said the FIS.