Former US general advises Switzerland to prepare for war

"The best way to prevent a war is to prepare for it," said the former commander of the US armed forces in Europe in the interview published on Sunday. Those who are unprepared are inviting aggression.

In his opinion, Russia does not respect Swiss neutrality. "That doesn't necessarily mean that Russian tanks will roll into Switzerland one day," said Hodges. In the Black Sea and the North Sea, we can see how Russia is engaging in hybrid warfare by disrupting free trade.

Nevertheless, the former general had specific advice for the Swiss army: "Learn how to deploy and defend against drones across a wide area." Massive investments must also be made in air defense. He also advised training large-scale maneuvers.

"Europe is no longer a priority"

The US Department of Defense is currently funding 100,000 soldiers in Europe, said Hodges. For him, it is clear that US President Donald Trump will withdraw troops. "The only question is when. And how many soldiers he will withdraw," said the former general. "According to everything I hear from Washington, Europe is no longer a priority." Trump sees China as the main opponent.

From Trump's point of view, the USA would pay billions for the defense of Europe, said Hodges. The US armed forces are about far more than European security, he added. Europe is a strategic outpost for the country, from where operations in Africa, the Middle East and Eurasia are coordinated. "Incidentally, the USA benefits enormously economically from a stable Europe," he said.