Army chief says Switzerland cannot defend itself from full-scale attack

ZURICH – Switzerland cannot defend itself against a full-scale attack and must boost military spending given rising risks from Russia, the head of its armed forces said.

The country is prepared for attacks by “non-state actors” on critical infrastructure and for cyberattacks, but its military still faces major equipment gaps, Lieutenant-General Thomas Suessli told the NZZ newspaper.

“What we cannot do is defend against threats from a distance or even a full-scale attack on our country,” said Lt-Gen Suessli, who is stepping down at the end of the year.

“It’s burdensome to know that in a real emergency, only a third of all soldiers would be fully equipped,” he said in an interview published on Dec 27.

Switzerland is increasing defence spending, modernising artillery and ground systems and replacing ageing fighter jets with Lockheed Martin F-35As.

But the plan faces cost overruns, while critics question spending on artillery and munitions amid tight federal finances.

Lt-Gen Suessli said attitudes towards the military had not shifted despite the war in Ukraine and Russian efforts to destabilise Europe.

He blamed Switzerland’s distance from the conflict, its lack of recent war experience and the false belief that neutrality offered protection.

“But that’s historically inaccurate. There are several neutral countries that were unarmed and were drawn into war. Neutrality has value only if it can be defended with weapons,” he said.

Switzerland has pledged to gradually raise defence spending to about 1 per cent of gross domestic product by around 2032, up from roughly 0.7 per cent now – far below the 5 per cent level agreed by NATO countries.

At that pace, the Swiss military would only be fully ready by around 2050.

“That is too long given the threat,” Lt-Gen Suessli said. REUTERS