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Switzerland: Intelligence Agencies

Strategic Intelligence Service (SIS)
Strategischer Nachrichtendienst (SND)
Service de renseignement stratégique (SRS)

Switzerland's national foreign intelligence agency. The SIS gathers, in close cooperation with other federal offices, information relevant to the security of Switzerland for the political and military leadership, analyzes this information and disseminates its findings. It deals with political, military, but also technological and economic developments abroad.

Armed Forces Intelligence Service (AIS)

The AIS is tasked with reconnaissance and intelligence at the operational and tactical levels if the armed forces are called up for civil affairs support or active duty. The AIS is also charged with the training of intelligence officers for the armed forces.

The Air Force Intelligence Section

The AFIS is responsible for intelligence, particularly on technical matters, that is directly necessary for air force operations. In addition it gathers information within the armed forces' area of interest, analyzes this information and forwards it to the AIS. The Air Force Intelligence Section is under operational control by the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence.

Federal Office of Police
Bundesamt für Polizei (BAP)

The BAP is Switzerland's domestic security and counterintelligence agency.

Sources and Resources

• Oversight and Intelligence Services: the Case of Switzerland by Carmen Müller, International Relations and Security Network, October 2013
• Investigating the Strategic Intelligence Service of Switzerland: Experiences of a Parliamentarian, by Dr. Barbara Haering, presented at a conference of the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces, October 2002.