Swiss Army Chief Warns Nation Unprepared for Full-Scale Attack

Switzerland is not equipped to repel a full-scale military attack, the Swiss Army Chief, Lieutenant-General Thomas Suessli, warned, highlighting critical equipment shortfalls and limited troop readiness. In an interview with NZZ, Suessli said the nation’s armed forces are prepared for cyber threats and attacks by non-state actors but lack the capabilities to counter distant or large-scale invasions.

Suessli noted that only about one-third of Swiss soldiers would be fully equipped in a real emergency, underscoring gaps in artillery, air defence, and modern munitions. Switzerland plans to modernise its military, including upgrading artillery and replacing ageing fighters with F-35A jets, and to gradually increase defence spending toward around 1% of GDP by 2032. However, critics say slow modernization and budget constraints could delay full readiness until 2050, a timeline Suessli called insufficient given growing security risks in Europe. He also challenged the belief that neutrality guarantees safety, stressing that it must be backed by credible defence capabilities.

Source: reuters.com