The war in Ukraine has changed everything: this is how Amherd wants to defend Switzerland

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Now Defense Minister Viola Amherd (61) is finally putting the cards on the table. Parliament has been calling for a clear strategy for the army for almost two years. With the war in Ukraine, the threat situation has deteriorated enormously. The Swiss army is not equipped for this. Especially around the debate about increasing the army budget, there were calls for Amherd to show how it wanted to reorganize the army.

Because the Ministry of Defense (VBS) did not respond, the Security Committee of the Council of States took further action a year ago. Amherd should have published a report by August showing how the country’s defense capacity can be strengthened. But this deadline also passed unused.

On land, in the air – and in space

But now the wait is finally over. On Wednesday, the Federal Council approved the ‘Defense Capability and Cooperation’ report. In 35 pages it explains how to strengthen the military’s defense capabilities and achieve deeper cooperation with NATO.

In order to identify threats earlier, for example, the military intelligence service and the army’s preventive protection service will be expanded over the next two years. In addition, the DDPS even makes space plans for explorations.

At the same time, the military must be brought into shape as quickly as possible at all levels: on land, at sea, in the air and in cyberspace. A major challenge given the military’s financial problems that have only just become known.

In the short term, the Army also wants to focus on readiness and training. Larger combat exercises will be conducted more often again. So that realistic scenarios can be trained, the possibilities for cooperation with armed forces in neighboring countries would be clarified.

And: The Army has concluded that some older systems that will soon be retired will need to be used for an extended period of time. As examples, she mentions the shoulder-mounted anti-aircraft guided missile Stinger and the Panzerfaust 90. The war in Ukraine has shown that such weapons are still very effective.

Back to the bunker

The army leadership had already announced last August that it wanted to change a lot. She wants to be able to defend the country again as soon as possible. At Army 21 the focus increasingly shifted to protection tasks. “We adapted to the threat situation of the time,” explained army chief Thomas Süssli (57) at the presentation of the report “Strengthening the Defense”. There was peace in Europe for decades.

Süssli wants to rely on the proven again: bunkers that were taken out of service after the Cold War must be put back into use. Artillery, anti-tank and anti-aircraft defenses need to be updated and some of the mothballed Leo 2 tanks put back into service – all lessons from the war in Ukraine. Cyber ​​defense and intelligence gathering also need to be expanded. And the army needs a lot more ammunition. The shopping list is long.

Going alone is over

As a neutral state, Switzerland strives to defend itself independently. “In the event of an attack, however, it is free to organize its defense together with other states,” the Federal Council said. At the same time, deeper cooperation with NATO must be achieved – always while maintaining neutrality.

However, the Federal Council makes little secret of its willingness to at least shake up the previously strict neutrality: “Switzerland has largely imposed the current restrictions on itself; It is therefore up to them to abandon it or at least adapt it within the framework of the law of neutrality.

For example, consideration is being given to sending soldiers on training missions for third parties or the transit of foreign military personnel through Switzerland for exercises. In addition, there is the planned participation in the European air defense system Sky Shield. A legal basis must be created for all this.

But this NATO protective shield is not available for free. The Federal Council makes it clear that cooperation is a matter of give and take and requires the willingness of the partners. Switzerland is therefore called on to make substantial contributions, including in the field of military peace-building in conflict areas.

Source:Blick