Switzerland, a perpetually neutral state, acknowledged that it has lost the ability to defend itself. As the security threat posed by Russia sweeps across Europe, calls are growing to accelerate military modernization and increase defense spending.
On the 28th (local time), Reuters reported that Thomas Süssli, the Swiss army's chief of the general staff, said in an interview with local outlet Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) the previous day, "Switzerland currently does not have the ability to fend off long-range threats or a full-scale attack on the country." Süssli added, "Only 33% of the total force could be deployed to operations with full equipment in a real emergency."
He said, "We believe Russia is preparing for a bigger war with the West," warning that "there is not much time left to prepare." He also said, "Historically, the belief that neutrality itself would automatically serve as a shield has often collapsed," emphasizing that "neutrality has value when it is defended with arms."
As Süssli noted, neutral status is not maintained by a declaration to stay out of war alone. Under international law, including the 1907 Hague Convention, neutral countries are legally obliged to prevent their territory from being used by belligerents. A neutral state without the power to defend itself effectively provides a corridor to hostile forces. For this reason, international law views whether a neutral state can defend itself as a key basis for stripping its status.
According to Euronews, the Swiss government judged that the threat of large-scale ground warfare had disappeared after the end of the Cold War in 1990. It then cut defense budgets and slashed troop numbers. The Swiss army, which had reached 600,000 in the 1960s, has now shrunk to about 140,000 including reserves. The standing force is far smaller. Equipment has also aged. Over the past 30 years, as upgrades to tanks and artillery were deferred, most defenses-oriented military facilities have become obsolete. The result has been paralysis in the ability to wage modern warfare.
Switzerland is a wealthy country with one of the highest GDPs per capita in the world. But its defense expenditure share is among the lowest of major nations. Switzerland currently spends about 0.7% of GDP on defense. That falls short of half the 2% guideline that U.S. President Donald Trump demands of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members. Experts said a neutral country outside a collective security framework like NATO should spend even more on defense than NATO members, because in a war it must hold the line alone without allied help.
Even if the country decides to open its wallet to strengthen national defense, it cannot boost its defenses immediately. Unlike in the past, modern advanced weapons systems take at least 10 years from contract to actual deployment in units. The defense industry calls this the procurement lead time. For example, the point at which the F-35A stealth fighters and new air defense systems that Switzerland has decided to acquire are fully integrated into the force will be, at the earliest, the late 2030s. Including modernization of ground force artillery systems, the "full readiness posture" the Swiss army seeks will not be complete until around 2050. Experts said this lag is why the Swiss military now defines its status as "unable to defend."
Fiscal principles are also a constraint. Switzerland enshrines in its constitution a debt brake that prevents national debt from exceeding a certain level. To increase defense spending by trillions of won, it would need to cut other areas such as welfare or education. In Swiss politics, there is still a fierce battle even over raising the defense budget from 0.7% to 1% of GDP, a 0.3 percentage point (p) increase. There is agreement to spend more now, but no decision yet on where the money will come from.
Experts said the dilemma Switzerland faces symbolizes a fundamental shift in Europe's security landscape. Citing experts, the security outlet Forces News said, "It must be made clear that being a neutral country does not mean pacifism," adding, "The new defense strategy that Switzerland pursues is a strategic move to strengthen defensive capabilities amid a deteriorating security situation."