Army chief Süssli warns "No jolt" after the war in Ukraine - Switzerland is not able to defend itself
Four years after the Russian attack on Ukraine, army chief Thomas Süssli is disillusioned: Switzerland is insufficiently prepared militarily - and politicians are too slow to react.
27.12.2025, 01:45
27.12.2025, 12:58
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- Army chief Thomas Süssli criticizes the fact that Switzerland has hardly drawn any security policy conclusions despite the Russian attack on Ukraine and warns against the illusion of an army capable of defending itself.
- He cites a lack of experience in war and a false trust in neutrality as reasons for Switzerland's reticence.
- According to Süssli, the army is relying on innovation systems and international cooperation to strengthen its defense capabilities, especially in the face of growing cyber threats.
Despite the Russian attack on Ukraine almost four years ago, Thomas Süssli, Head of the Armed Forces, sees Swiss policy as unimpressed by this. "I don't have the feeling that a jolt has gone through the country since then," he says in an interview with the "Neue Zürcher Zeitung" on Saturday.
In a democracy, politics determines the means. He accepts that, says Süssli. But he bears responsibility for the troops. It is stressful to know that only a third of all soldiers would be fully equipped in an emergency.
"I still remember February 24, 2022, when Russia attacked Ukraine. It was clear to me that what was needed now was ruthless honesty. The population and politicians must not believe that the army is capable of defending itself when it is not," warns the head of the army, who is stepping down at the end of the year.
Why has Switzerland not been jolted after the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Süssli sees three reasons. Firstly, the last war on Swiss soil was almost 180 years ago - the Sonderbund War of 1847. "Fortunately, we don't have a collective memory of wars, unlike Estonia or Poland, for example," he says.
Secondly, the Ukraine war seems far away for many. "In fact, there are only two countries between us and Ukraine: Hungary and Austria," warns Süssli.
False hope in neutrality
And thirdly, there is the idea that neutrality automatically protects. But this is historically wrong. There are several neutral countries that were unarmed and were drawn into a war. Neutrality only has value if it can be defended with weapons.
If Switzerland only wanted to invest one percent of its gross domestic product from 2032 or 2035, it would take until around 2050 to make the country ready for defense. However, this is too long in view of the threat.
Innovation system for flexibility
However, the Swiss Armed Forces are making progress in order to keep up with the rapid changes on the battlefield. "For example, we have set up an innovation system where militiamen can contribute their ideas," says Süssli. This innovation system is crucial. "It allows us to bring new technologies to the troops quickly, regardless of what they are," emphasizes the army chief.
Despite the cumbersome processes involved in armaments purchases, new approaches are being taken. "In the case of drones, for example, we don't buy a specific model in stock," says Süssli.
"Instead, we look for technologically interesting manufacturers with whom we conclude framework agreements. This allows us to call up the latest technology at a later date. Or we no longer invite tenders for a clearly defined product, but describe the problem we want to solve. Then it's a competition of ideas."
Süssli pleads for international cooperation
However, Süssli also warns of an increasing shift of war to the cyber sphere. The Swiss intelligence service, for example, says that "over eighty Russian nationals with links to Russian intelligence services live here".
The army chief also pleads for international cooperation. "Switzerland cannot defend itself autonomously. We must therefore be able to cooperate with other armies and be interoperable, i.e. function together. This requires years of preparation, which has already begun," he emphasizes.
