Security is of the essence when it comes to the leaders of the world. Some of the world’s greatest nations have security protocols in place for their presidents that not even a fly can breach. Here are nine of the most heavily protected leaders around the world:
1. Vladimir Putin
Russia is one country with its share of secrets and secretive agencies. However, when it comes to the president, perhaps the most secretive force of them all is seen. The Federal Protection Service (FSO), also known as “Putin’s People,” is responsible for the safety of the country’s political elite. However, its number one priority is to keep President Vladimir Putin safe and the FSO has the power to go to absurd lengths to keep him safe.
One of the most common rumours about the FSO is that they have at least one person who plays the role of fake Putin and that they deploy him to do all those cool but dangerous stunts real Putin is known for, such as fighter jet stunts and submarine dives.
2. Donald Trump
The President of the United States is always at the top of many hit lists, which is why the security procedures around Donald Trump are among the very best in the world. Besides the Secret Service and their daily efforts to protect the POTUS, there are also other key elements that are a part of the President’s security detail.
When Trump visited the United Kingdom in 2018 for a two-day visit, he was accompanied by 1,000 members of staff, a full motorcade and helicopters. The whole visit was carefully planned for weeks by security teams of both countries, and an estimated 150 Secret Service agents were also in attendance.
3. Kim Jong-Un
The North Korean version of the Secret Service boasts of a whopping 100,000 operatives. This elite unit is called the Guard Command, and they essentially serve as Kim’s highly trained personal army that reports directly to him. The absolute best of the best in the Command become members of Kim’s personal protection unit, and they never come into the open unless something goes seriously wrong.
4. The Pope
The Pope’s Pontifical Swiss Guard comprises of the best soldiers Switzerland has to offer. They also boast of one of the most advanced collections of firearms in the world. The Guard is the world’s oldest standing military with its number around 125 soldiers. The few who pass the tryout process for this elite army are sworn in by the Pope himself, and go on to guard the Vatican and protect the Pope.
5. Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia
The commanders of the Saudi Royal Guard, armed forces, land forces, air defence, air force and navy all report to the Crown Prince. It was even rumoured that there would be 800 new officer appointments by the end of 2019. With this massive size of security detail, the Crown Prince is arguably on course to become the person with the most massive personal security network on this list.
6. Xi Jinping
As the number one man of China, Xi Jinping is heavily protected by an elite and secret guard unit called Central Security Bureau The Central Guard Bureau has thousands of elite troops. During a 2017 trip, a “massive security blanket” enveloped the area. Parts of the city were shut down, as 11,000 police officers did their level best to keep the President safe with peacekeeping tools such as helicopters and movable six-foot barricades.
7. Queen Elizabeth II
The Queen’s security forces the popular Queen’s Guard in their red uniforms and black hats, as well as the security personnel that guards the Buckingham Palace at all hours, who are more conventional than the Queen’s Guard. However, those really trained to keep Her Majesty safe are the Royal Protection Squad. This elite Scotland Yard squad was formed in 1983, and reportedly consists of up to 185 SAS-trained officers. The RPS is responsible for providing around-the-clock security for the Queen, along with the rest of the royal family and London’s diplomats.
8. The President of Guinea
Alpha Conde became the first democratically elected President of Guinea and the only African leader on this list. In 2011, political opponents attempted to assassinate him in his own home, in a two-hour battle that involves several hostile gunmen and a grenade launcher. This was followed by another attack just a few hours after Conde addressed the nation about the first attack. His Presidential Guard was there to fend off both attacks.
9. Shinzo Abe
Although he has now resigned, Shinzo Abe’s security detail is also mindblowing. His foreign trips have been known to require a security staff of 9,000 people. In 2016, the prime minister’s motorcade was on the road when it needed to change lanes in the traffic of a highway. Instead of closing off a portion of the road beforehand, the security staff leans out of the car windows, hanging half out of the moving cars while calmly gesturing to other cars with their white-gloved hands, without any fear that the incoming traffic could ram directly into their flailing torsos.
