In a studyExternal link on “Security Policy Perspectives” released on Friday, Avenir Suisse writes that “the protection afforded by Switzerland’s geographical and political environment is waning”. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing armed conflict there represent “a turning point in the European post-war order. But for some time now, conflicts have also increasingly been waged below the actual threshold of war in ‘hybrid’ form”.
This includes cyber-attacks, it says. “Unconventional scenarios such as cyber-attacks on military and other critical infrastructure are gaining in significance by comparison with conventional armed threats,” notes Avenir Suisse.
Military means alone are not sufficient to control the threats to which Switzerland is exposed today, which also include pandemics, power shortages, mobile network outages, and terrorist attacks, both with and without drones, says the study.
Boosting defences
In spite of the new threats, the bulk of investments earmarked for upgrading Swiss army equipment in the coming decade are for purchasing conventional means, while only a small part of the budget is earmarked for increasing cyber defence, according to Avenir Suisse. Cybersecurity in Switzerland should be strengthened, both in the army and in critical infrastructure, it concludes.
The Swiss government announced last year a controversial decision to buy 36 new F-35 fighter aircraft from US manufacturer Lockheed Martin. “F-35A fighter planes are designed specifically for deployment within a military alliance (i.e. NATO),” writes Avenir Suisse. “To harness their full potential, transnational military cooperation should be stepped up, for example by taking part in NATO exercises.”
This means that Switzerland, which is not a member of NATO, would have to clarify “questions of neutrality”, it says.
Federer-backed On boosts forecast after sneaker demand rises
This content was published on
Swiss footwear company On Holding AG posted strong first-quarter revenue, boosted by demand for its running shoes and new line of training apparel.
Michael Schumacher’s watches fetch CHF4 million at Swiss auction
This content was published on
Watches belonging to Formula 1 great Michael Schumacher sold for around CHF4 million ($4.41 million) at auction house Christie's in Geneva on Tuesday.
Macron will attend Swiss summit on Ukraine, says Zelensky
This content was published on
French President Emmanuel Macron will attend the peace conference on Ukraine at the Swiss Bürgenstock resort next month, according to Volodymyr Zelensky.
Top politician tells ‘corrupt’ Eurovision to stay away from Bern
This content was published on
A social media post by the president of Bern’s cantonal government critical of the Eurovision Song Contest has created waves and will be discussed in the cantonal parliament.
Swiss centre records over 200 victims of human trafficking
This content was published on
Last year 317 people took part in a protection programme run by the Specialist Unit for Trafficking in Women and Women’s Migration (FIZ) in German-speaking Switzerland.
This content was published on
The Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and partners are opening a field hospital in southern Gaza on Tuesday.
Lack of smartphone sustainability in Switzerland hits environment
This content was published on
Almost half of all Swiss citizens hang on to their old smartphones, tablets and laptops, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
Swiss defence minister repeats calls for stronger army
This content was published on
The Swiss armed forces need to be boosted and better prepared, argues Defence Minister Viola Amherd. Nato membership however is “not an option”.
This content was published on
Defence Minister Viola Amherd is standing by the government’s decision to buy F-35A jets despite pushback from a left-wing coalition.
Swiss group campaigns against purchase of US fighter jets
This content was published on
The government’s decision to buy F-35A jets from the US could be challenged in a popular vote if critics get enough signatures.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.