Switzerland Increases Spending on Cyber Defense To Ward off Attacks
Switzerland announced on Wednesday plans to increase military expenditure in the coming years. The funds will cover acquisitions of weapons and training as well as boosting its cyber defense. With this announcement, the nation joins a trend seen across European nations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
President Viola Amherd revealed that starting in 2035, additional funding of around 20 billion Swiss francs ($22.58 billion) would be available, a significant increase compared to pre-Ukraine war planning. In 2023, Switzerland allocated 1.9 billion francs to equip its armed forces.
Speaking at a press conference, Amherd, who also serves as defense minister, acknowledged the challenging security landscape characterized by the European conflict, conflicts in the Middle East, and global tensions. She emphasized that the plan was formulated, in part, based on lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict.
She pointed out that for three decades, Switzerland’s military had experienced reductions in funding, a consequence of cost-saving measures implemented after the end of the Cold War, commonly known as the “peace dividend.”
Following concerns raised by the government regarding deficiencies in Switzerland’s command and control systems, ground and air forces, and cyber defenses, Thomas Suessli, head of the armed forces, highlighted the need to replace aging artillery dating to the 1960s.
Switzerland Experienced Cyberattack
In January, Swiss government websites faced cyber attacks, attributed to a Russian-linked hacker group, coinciding with the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to the World Economic Forum in Davos. The military expenditure also covers getting new equipment to tackle cyberattacks like this.
To address security gaps, the government announced plans to request credits totaling 4.9 billion francs ($5.53 billion) for the acquisition of new military equipment, including guided missiles, mobile radars, and enhanced communication systems.
Additionally, Switzerland intends to construct a dedicated military data center and upgrade existing bases. The government also presented its financial framework for the military, seeking up to 25.8 billion francs for defense expenditures from 2025 to 2028, a notable increase from the 21.7 billion francs allocated between 2021 and 2024.
Switzerland’s decision mirrors concerns among European leaders regarding security, particularly in light of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s statements suggesting a potential reluctance by Washington to defend NATO members lacking adequate defense spending.
In a related development, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the need for Germany and Europe’s defense industry to transition towards mass production of arms, citing challenges in meeting ammunition demand amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.