Swiss New Army Chief Warns: Country Lacks Adequate Defense Against Drone Attacks
The new Swiss army chief, Benedikt Roos, asserts that Bern does not have the necessary defense means against potential drone attacks, similar to those observed in the Middle East conflict: “facing the threats we currently see in Iran, we have practically nothing, absolutely nothing, zero. And you see, that’s why we must invest in this area. And one thing that really worries me is: what will we do if these new systems – drones and everything else – fall into the hands of terrorists? Then we will need even more of these defense systems.”
This warning comes as the Swiss government prepares to increase its military spending to strengthen the country’s air defense, particularly protection against drones. Last week, the Swiss government requested Parliament’s approval for a defense budget of 3.7 billion euros, focusing on developing land-based air defense, drone protection, and enhancing cyber capabilities.
This budget includes the acquisition of German-made IRIS-T SLM missile systems for one billion euros and strengthening protection against mini-drones for approximately 76 million euros. The army chief highlights Bern’s two main priorities: “the first is responding to hybrid threats. It starts with cyberattacks in the information domain. And the second concerns long-distance threats.”
At the beginning of the month, Switzerland and the European Union also announced their intention to deepen cooperation in security and defense, including exchanging information from Ukraine to the Middle East zones.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and Swiss counterpart, Ignazio Cassis, signed a joint declaration emphasizing the strategic importance of their cooperation in foreign policy and security, committing to strengthening ties. They also signed a technical agreement that will allow Switzerland, known for its neutrality, to more easily participate in joint civilian or military missions “aimed at maintaining Europe’s stability.”
