The Swiss Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) released its latest situation report on Tuesday, highlighting the continuing impact of Russia’s aggression on Ukraine on national and international security.
The report stressed that escalating conflicts between the great powers had a major impact on Switzerland’s security.
And how the declining effectiveness of international fora such as the United Nations (UN) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) contributes to the lack of a stable New World Order as Russia destroys the rules-based world order. indicated whether An order for peace in Europe.
Furthermore, the report highlighted the trend towards a more polarized world, with Europe and the EU continuing to rely strategically on the United States.
China asserts itself as a pole to the “West,” undermining Russia’s role in Sino-Russian relations. But if a leader like Donald Trump or another isolationist candidate takes power in 2025, uncertainty about US engagement in Europe could resurface.
Read more here: Experts urge to apply lessons learned from Russian-Ukrainian cyberwarfare to potential China-Taiwan scenarios
According to the FIS, China and Russia are challenging existing institutions, rules and norms, while regional powers such as Turkey, India and Saudi Arabia are looking to expand their influence. In the Indo-Pacific region, Japan sees China as its most important strategic challenge. Meanwhile, in Africa, power struggles between Western powers, Russia and China are intensifying.
The report also highlighted the ongoing links between violent extremism and terrorism. The polarization and fragmentation of society increases the risk of violent extremism, and right-wing extremist attacks may become more frequent in Europe.
“The conflict is becoming polarized,” said Timothy Morris, Tanium’s chief security adviser. “Even those forming the majority will disagree on how the conflict should be handled. Switzerland takes Russia’s actions seriously and has warned others. Not to mention their perception of conflict.”
Conversant Group CEO John Anthony Smith echoed Morris’ point. He stressed that cybersecurity professionals have a responsibility to implement appropriate controls, configurations and orchestrations to prevent attacks.
“While it is clear that security should be given particular focus at this time of heightened tension, it is our position that it is always imperative to put 100% effort into protecting critical infrastructure. ” added Mr Smith.
“Threat actors are effectively continuously investigating and attempting attacks, and the consequences of complacency can be devastating.”
