*”Switzerland has pledged to gradually raise defence spending to about 1% of GDP by around 2032, up from roughly 0.7% now – far below the 5% level agreed by NATO countries.*
*At that pace, the Swiss military would only be fully ready by around 2050.”*
I thought Switzerland’s culture had a reputation of prizing being punctual, though when it’s about military preparedness I guess they think they can always wait until *mañana.*
LeakyMooseAnus___ on
Time to invade Switzerland! All by myself!
ACompletelyLostCause on
Switzerland has always relied on the good will of the countries surrounding it, as Russia would have to defeat NATO to physically get close to it. I doubt they are willing to pay the money required to defend themselves, when the can rely on NATO to protect them, while NATO is protecting itself.
Switzerland wasn’t particularly helpful to Europe when Europe was trying to help Ukraine. They felt that their business dealings with Russian oligarchs was all the protection they needed.
Tr3sp4ss3r on
Considering the defensive advantages they have and lack of much strategic value AND the banks entangled world wide interests there, I think they can slack a little on defense.
They do have a bunker mentality that I would not underestimate if I wanted to invade them. Things like mandatory military service and keeping the gun afterwards, stored separately from ammo, as part of the militia defense.
Swiss people correct me if I have fallen for some fake news or propaganda.
omfgeometry on
How much Russian oligarchy money is stashed there?
Stock_Market_1930 on
I gotta think security for the Swiss means keeping the global banking system secure more than a land war in Switzerland.
Having said that, contributing meaningfully to collective European security would be a smart move.
[deleted] on
[removed]
McMilf_hunter2 on
from whom, bugs bunny?
LayneLowe on
From whom?
Drob10 on
Maybe a silly question, but wouldn’t many of these smaller countries be in the same situation, hence the creation of groups like the EU?
sid32 on
This article doesn’t even cite the Swiss Navy
Capy_3796 on
I thought that was the whole point of neutrality. 🤷
KGarveth on
Neutrality is great until there arent 3 countries between you and your enemy anymore.
AggravatingRecipe90 on
Can Switzerland even Feed all its people? What if the surrounding Nations decide to Blockade all Passages into the country for example.
TuMoch on
They never did
Jtex1414 on
Switzerland’s military doctrine has always been “We’ll make sure the cost to invade and hold Swiss territory isn’t worth the time and resources you’ll need to invest to do so”. Bunkers everywhere. Armed citizenry. Infrastructure rigged with explosives.
Mr_Engineering on
Switzerland’s greatest defense is the insufferability of its populace
kinkyhentai69 on
Well their strategy of cowarding and profiting from both sides has worked well so far…
jsc010-1 on
I can’t imagine any of their neighbors invading but I guess anything is possible nowadays. Also, don’t they have a natural defense being surrounded by mountains?
Low-Doughnut5738 on
No one would invade Switzerland. They have everyone’s money.
sam77tg on
man wtf of a world are we coming to……
IllProgress4439 on
Who’s gonna invade Switzerland?
JarJarBingChilling on
Its a good thing that all of their neighbours are unlikely to attack them then..
Maximum-Shallot-2447 on
I do not have Switzerland being invaded on my bingo card next year I think it is a lock.
Hell-Fire442 on
Its easy to think that a modern military could walk over a less prepared country, but switzerland would be the worst place to test that theory.
Ukraine – Russia turned into a bogged down WW1 esq fight with bunkers, trenches, and small units fighting with drones. Switzerland has a large bunker infrastructure that may not be currently used, but if they had to mobilize it would be. A prolonged war would be devestatingly slow and painful and I would venture to bet that most individual Nato countrys, barring the US, would not be able to easily establish air superiority over the entire country fast enough to prevent a ground defense from mounting.
We arent talking afganis in the mountains, we are talking drones operated out of prebuilt bunkers.
FrostyVariation9798 on
Why would Switzerland need to defend itself against anybody? That country has more dirt on more world leaders than anyone, and I’m sure that they know how to use blackmail.
xTiming- on
I love how on a thread linking to an article about Switzerland’s own army chief saying Switzerland wouldn’t be able to defend against a full-scale assault, there are a bunch of armchair enjoyers telling people that they’re underestimating Switzerland’s capabilities and that it is easily defensible, lmao.
dazed247 on
Haha
When the Nazi asked what the 500K Swiss militia will do when 1,000,000 trained nazi soldiers cross the Swiss border? The Swiss said “We will all shoot twice then go home”
Putrid-Chemical3438 on
This has been true for ages. But Switzerland has been surrounded by neighbors that have no interest in invading it for hundreds of years.
29 Comments
This was the most interesting part:
*”Switzerland has pledged to gradually raise defence spending to about 1% of GDP by around 2032, up from roughly 0.7% now – far below the 5% level agreed by NATO countries.*
*At that pace, the Swiss military would only be fully ready by around 2050.”*
I thought Switzerland’s culture had a reputation of prizing being punctual, though when it’s about military preparedness I guess they think they can always wait until *mañana.*
Time to invade Switzerland! All by myself!
Switzerland has always relied on the good will of the countries surrounding it, as Russia would have to defeat NATO to physically get close to it. I doubt they are willing to pay the money required to defend themselves, when the can rely on NATO to protect them, while NATO is protecting itself.
Switzerland wasn’t particularly helpful to Europe when Europe was trying to help Ukraine. They felt that their business dealings with Russian oligarchs was all the protection they needed.
Considering the defensive advantages they have and lack of much strategic value AND the banks entangled world wide interests there, I think they can slack a little on defense.
They do have a bunker mentality that I would not underestimate if I wanted to invade them. Things like mandatory military service and keeping the gun afterwards, stored separately from ammo, as part of the militia defense.
Swiss people correct me if I have fallen for some fake news or propaganda.
How much Russian oligarchy money is stashed there?
I gotta think security for the Swiss means keeping the global banking system secure more than a land war in Switzerland.
Having said that, contributing meaningfully to collective European security would be a smart move.
[removed]
from whom, bugs bunny?
From whom?
Maybe a silly question, but wouldn’t many of these smaller countries be in the same situation, hence the creation of groups like the EU?
This article doesn’t even cite the Swiss Navy
I thought that was the whole point of neutrality. 🤷
Neutrality is great until there arent 3 countries between you and your enemy anymore.
Can Switzerland even Feed all its people? What if the surrounding Nations decide to Blockade all Passages into the country for example.
They never did
Switzerland’s military doctrine has always been “We’ll make sure the cost to invade and hold Swiss territory isn’t worth the time and resources you’ll need to invest to do so”. Bunkers everywhere. Armed citizenry. Infrastructure rigged with explosives.
Switzerland’s greatest defense is the insufferability of its populace
Well their strategy of cowarding and profiting from both sides has worked well so far…
I can’t imagine any of their neighbors invading but I guess anything is possible nowadays. Also, don’t they have a natural defense being surrounded by mountains?
No one would invade Switzerland. They have everyone’s money.
man wtf of a world are we coming to……
Who’s gonna invade Switzerland?
Its a good thing that all of their neighbours are unlikely to attack them then..
I do not have Switzerland being invaded on my bingo card next year I think it is a lock.
Its easy to think that a modern military could walk over a less prepared country, but switzerland would be the worst place to test that theory.
Ukraine – Russia turned into a bogged down WW1 esq fight with bunkers, trenches, and small units fighting with drones. Switzerland has a large bunker infrastructure that may not be currently used, but if they had to mobilize it would be. A prolonged war would be devestatingly slow and painful and I would venture to bet that most individual Nato countrys, barring the US, would not be able to easily establish air superiority over the entire country fast enough to prevent a ground defense from mounting.
We arent talking afganis in the mountains, we are talking drones operated out of prebuilt bunkers.
Why would Switzerland need to defend itself against anybody? That country has more dirt on more world leaders than anyone, and I’m sure that they know how to use blackmail.
I love how on a thread linking to an article about Switzerland’s own army chief saying Switzerland wouldn’t be able to defend against a full-scale assault, there are a bunch of armchair enjoyers telling people that they’re underestimating Switzerland’s capabilities and that it is easily defensible, lmao.
Haha
When the Nazi asked what the 500K Swiss militia will do when 1,000,000 trained nazi soldiers cross the Swiss border? The Swiss said “We will all shoot twice then go home”
This has been true for ages. But Switzerland has been surrounded by neighbors that have no interest in invading it for hundreds of years.