The head of the Swiss army warns that the country cannot withstand a large-scale attack: "Neutrality is only valuable if it can be defended with weapons."

Thomas Suessli, the head of the Swiss armed forces, stated that the country is not prepared to defend itself against a large-scale attack, especially from Russia, and that it needs to increase its military spending. Although Switzerland is prepared for cyberattacks and threats from non-state actors, the army faces significant shortages in equipment. Suessli emphasized that, in case of emergency, only a third of soldiers would be fully equipped. Switzerland is modernizing its armed forces, including replacing fighter jets with F-35A, but is facing budget overruns and criticism regarding spending. Despite the war in Ukraine, attitudes towards the army have not changed, and Suessli pointed out that neutrality does not guarantee protection without a well-equipped army. Switzerland aims to increase defense spending to 1% of GDP by 2032, but this pace is considered too slow given the current threats.