Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Switzerland has become a safe haven for the Russian, as well as Chinese, secret agents. The Swiss Government has claimed that Russian and Chinese secret service officials have become active in the landlocked central European country surrounded by the Alps Mountains. The concerned authorities in Bern believe that the country attracts Russian and Chinese spies as a number of international organisations have their headquarters in Switzerland.

Federal Intelligence Service (FIS), the central intelligence agency of Switzerland, has claimed in its Annual Report that Russia is destroying the atmosphere of peace in Europe. It has also mentioned in the report that the effectiveness of international organisations, such as the UN, in maintaining peace and security is increasingly declining, especially in Europe. Hence, there are no signs of a stable world order. The Swiss intelligence agency has further claimed that Switzerland’s security is being undermined by the growing rivalry between the major global powers, which has increased in the atmosphere of Russia-Ukraine War. As per the Annual Report, the rivalry between China and the US is all set to create a Bipolar World, yet again.

Meanwhile, Bern has admitted that the war between Russia and Ukraine is badly affecting the security system of Switzerland. The Swiss Government is of the opinion that the security system has become problematic mainly because of the Russian and Chinese spies. Switzerland is one of the European countries where the largest number of Russian intelligence agents are working under diplomatic disguises. As Geneva houses one of the headquarters of the UN and headquarters of several UN agencies, diplomats from various countries gather in this city to participate in various meetings.

Christian Dussey, the Head of FIS, recently said: “Of the roughly 220 people that are accredited as diplomatic or technical-administrative personnel at the diplomatic and consular representations in Geneva and Bern, at least a third are likely still active for Russian intelligence agencies.” According to Dussey, some of them may be intelligence agents. The FIS chief has informed the media that Moscow has been using companies from several countries for procurement since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War. So, Switzerland has increased monitoring of India, Turkey and some other countries, in the wake of the Ukraine War.

The Swiss intelligence agency believes that Chinese secret agents, too, have become active in Switzerland. The FIS has mentioned in its Annual Report that China, like Russia, has sent scores of people indulging in activities pertaining to espionage to Switzerland. However, the Chinese secret agents are by no means disguised as diplomats. Instead, they have set up their bases in Switzerland by posing as scientists, journalists or business executives. Dussey has stressed that the Chinese secret agents would gradually become more vigilant in Europe. The FIS chief has warned that they would develop more means and resources to survive in Switzerland.

At the same time, Dussey has assured his countrymen that the FIS is working hard to reduce the prevalence of foreign espionage. He has stressed that espionage in Switzerland would have a negative impact on Geneva’s international importance, as well as reputation, apart from raising questions about his country’s credibility. He believes it is possible that Chinese and Russian agents are trying to monitor the decisions of the UN, and to influence Switzerland, one of the richest countries, from Swiss soil.

As expected, Beijing has rejected Bern’s allegations. Mao Ning, the senior spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, has said that China was opposed to espionage, calling the claim “groundless smears”.

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das