STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENT Proliferation The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and the goods necessary for their production continues to pose a threat to security in many regions of the world. Switzerland, as a major exporter of dual-use goods, has a particular responsibility here to work to prevent proliferation. The implementation of the framework agreement with Iran continued in 2017, but progress toward the normalisation of economic relations is still hesitant. Developments in North Korea's weapons of mass destruction programmes have maintained their momentum. The country's proliferation activities are moving beyond the regional context and becoming a global threat. This has changed the rules of the game for dealing with an illegitimate nuclear weapons programme outside the recognised nuclear-weapon states. Chemical weapons were used in Syria again in 2017. Terrorist groups are showing a clear interest in obtaining expertise on weapons of mass destruction; terrorist groups have increased their capabilities to use chemical weapons, in particular. The threat posed by proliferation is also drawing closer to Switzerland. or more detailed information is required. Information is needed in the political, economic and military spheres. Espionage does not just violate the sovereignty of the states in which or against which it is conducted: the data outflow causes direct or indirect damage, members of diaspora communities under surveillance and their relatives in the country of origin may be threatened with serious harm or death, and access acquired by means of espionage may possibly also be used for manipulation or even sabotage. Illegal intelligence Illegal intelligence serves the interests of states and in some cases also the private interests of influential persons in these states. Conventional illegal intelligence is a set of long-established practices, which for years now have been supplemented by cyber espionage tools. It can be assumed that there is a constant need to procure and update information, occasionally accentuated by circumstances in which more specific SIT UAT ION R E PORT 2 0 1 8 | FIS 21