Switzerland cannot defend itself against a full-scale attack and must increase military spending given the growing risks from Russia.
This, according to foreign media, reports the Telegraph, is the last message from the head of its armed forces.
The country is prepared for attacks by “non-state actors” on critical infrastructure and for cyberattacks, but its military still faces major gaps in equipment, Thomas Suessli told the NZZ newspaper.
“What we cannot do is protect ourselves from threats from a distance or even from a full-scale attack on our country,” Suessli, who will leave at the end of the year, was quoted as saying.
“It’s hard to know that in a real emergency, only a third of all soldiers would be fully equipped,” he added, in an interview published on Saturday.
As the media points out, Switzerland is increasing defense spending, modernizing artillery and ground systems, and replacing aging fighter jets with Lockheed Martin F-35A.
But the plan faces cost overruns, with critics questioning spending on artillery and ammunition “amid tight federal finances.”
Suessli said attitudes towards the military had not changed despite the war in Ukraine and Russian efforts to destabilize Europe.
He “blamed” Switzerland’s distance from the conflict, its lack of recent war experience and the mistaken belief that neutrality offered protection.
“But this is historically incorrect. There are some neutral countries that were unarmed and were drawn into the war. Neutrality only has value if it can be defended with weapons,” he said.
Switzerland has pledged to gradually increase defense spending to around 1% of GDP by around 2032, from roughly 0.7% now – well below the 5% level agreed upon by NATO countries.
And at that rate, it is estimated that the Swiss army will only be fully ready around 2050.
“That’s a long time considering the threat,” Suessli warned. /Telegraph/