‘Rich and weak’?

Dear reader,

Being “rich and weak” offers little protection for a small country like Switzerland in today’s new world order, according toExternal link Thomas Süssli, who recently stepped down as head of the Swiss armed forces.

This might be better than being poor and weak, you might argue.

For once his analysis did not refer to threats from the East, but to new threats from the West – the United States.

Recent public statements by Donald Trump have surprised many in Europe. These include his repeated remarks that he wants to acquire Greenland and his appearance at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual gathering in Davos, where he lashed out at almost everyone.

Loyalty and historical ties between the US and Europe do not seem important to the Trump administration. It has committed itself to an “America First” doctrine, which, among other things, aims to achieve financial benefits even at the expense of close partners.

From this perspective, countries like Switzerland – economically powerful but militarily insignificant – are a perfect target. This applies to most other (Western) European countries. And the tactic of intimidation and pressure works as long as Europe remains dependent on US military power.

Ultimately, everything hinges on time. European countries are rearming, and Switzerland—like many others—is racing to secure new trade deals to lessen its reliance on the US market and broaden its network of partners. The key question is whether Europe can hold out against American pressure, particularly in the form of tariffs, long enough.

There will not be a total decoupling, but the long-term trend is clear. While the US economy accounted for almost 22% of global GDPExternal link in 1980, today it is just under 15%. The world is growing elsewhere. And those countries with the right resources can help shape the future. So, nations like Switzerland don’t need to be afraid – they just need a clear strategy.

What do you think? Is Switzerland really “rich and weak”? Join the discussion in our debate, which is available in 10 languages. All contributions are automatically translated into your language. Click here for more👇

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Best regards,

Giannis Mavris

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