Presenting its annual report, the Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) cautioned that "Switzerland's security environment continues to deteriorate from year to year".

In a statement, the FIS pointed to the "dangerous and volatile period of transition to a new order of global power relations", amid a "heavily polarised environment with multiple and simultaneous crises as well as armed conflicts in Europe and on its periphery".

"Switzerland is significantly less secure than it was just a few years ago," it warned.

Europe as a whole "finds itself in a challenging position", it said, pointing out that "the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is making it painfully clear how dependent Europe is on the USA for its security".

Of all the strategic patterns currently emerging, the intelligence agency said that "the closer military cooperation between a group of Eurasian autocracies is one of the most concerning".

This swelling cooperation between China, Russia, Iran and North Korea was having an impact on regional wars and crises, it warned.

Tuesday's report warned that the "political, economic, technological and military relations between these countries with revisionist intentions" had become "closer and stronger than ever".

"These states want to reduce the USA's influence and are opposed to Western ideas of political order," the FIS pointed out, adding that "they are seeking to change the status quo in their respective regions and to establish their own spheres of influence."

The intelligency service also reiterated its warnings of a high threat of espionage in Switzerland.

"Numerous services maintain covert bases in Switzerland, known as residencies. These usually operate out of diplomatic missions," it said.

It reiterated prior warnings that the greatest espionage threat came from Russia, but cautioned that "the threat to Switzerland from the Chinese intelligence services is also high".

FIS also emphasised that the terrorist threat in Switzerland "remains elevated, and in 2024 became even more pronounced".

It remained substantially shaped by individuals inspired by Islamic extremist ideologies, it said, warning that in the case of jihadism, but also right-wing extremism, "an increase in the radicalisation of minors in Switzerland can be seen".