Thomas Süssli: «Switzerland Cannot Defend Itself Autonomously»

Summary

The outgoing Swiss Army Chief Thomas Süssli warns in his final interview of the Russian threat and criticizes the insufficient defensibility of the Swiss Army. In drastic terms, he makes clear: Only one-third of soldiers are fully equipped, defensive readiness will not be achieved until 2050 – if at all. Süssli advocates for faster defense investments and international cooperation, particularly with NATO, to ensure Switzerland's security.

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Detailed Summary

Threat Assessment and Security Policy

Thomas Süssli emphasizes that the threat from Russia is real and not merely prophecy. European defense ministers warn that Moscow could be ready for further escalation with the West from 2028 onward. The Army Chief points to his experiences at the security forum in Warsaw, where the question is no longer whether Russia poses a threat, but how to address it.

Switzerland is already a target of Russian activities: Swiss intelligence registers over 80 Russian nationals with connections to Russian intelligence services in the country. Cyberattacks, disinformation, and espionage are already taking place. While documented acts of sabotage in Switzerland have so far been absent, Europe has documented over 60 cases attributed to Russia.

Süssli rejects an either-or approach to security: Military strength and cyber defense are equally required, as the Ukraine war demonstrates, where tanks, artillery, and drones are deployed simultaneously.

Defensive Readiness and Equipment Shortages

The central problem is clear: The Swiss Army cannot defend itself autonomously. Only against non-state actors and cyberattacks is Switzerland prepared. Against threats from a distance or comprehensive attacks, it is not equipped. Particularly concerning for Süssli is the fact that in an emergency, only one-third of all soldiers would be fully equipped.

At the current pace, the Swiss Army would only be defensively ready by 2050 – over 20 years too late given the current threat landscape. The problem: All financial resources are committed until 2028/29, delivery times are continuously extending, and many defense contractors demand full payment before delivery.

Süssli was the first Army Chief to publicly name this shortfall so clearly – a position that initially met with skepticism, but is necessary to avoid giving the population and politics false confidence.

Perception of Threat in Switzerland

Süssli identifies three reasons why there has been no "wake-up call" across Switzerland:

1. The last war on Swiss soil was almost 180 years ago (Sonderbund War of 1847), so there is no collective memory of war – unlike in Estonia or Poland.
2. The Ukraine war seems spatially distant, even though only two countries (Hungary and Austria) lie between Switzerland and Ukraine.
3. The widespread notion that neutrality automatically protects is historically false. Neutrality has value only if it can be defended with weapons.

However, Parliament did act in 2024, increasing the credit framework by 4 billion to 29.8 billion francs and approving additional funds for ground-based air defense – a step that Süssli acknowledges as what is possible in the current financial situation.

Innovation and Technological Transformation

For Süssli, innovation in modern warfare is crucial. The Ukraine war shows: "Innovate or die." The Swiss Army is building an innovation system in which militia soldiers can contribute and pitch their ideas like in a startup world.

The new digitalization platform NDP is a pragmatic, Europe-leading Swiss solution combining standard software and open-source elements, not "Swiss finish" luxury. It enables, for example, new drones to be connected within days.

The Army is taking new approaches with drones: Rather than purchasing a specific model in advance, it concludes framework agreements with technologically interesting manufacturers and later procures the latest technology. A successful example: An ecosystem has developed a solution with which every soldier can take a photo with their smartphone, upload it via Threema, and have the image flow directly into the Army's situational picture – with Swiss companies and Swiss technology.

Militia System as an Advantage

Contrary to expectations, Süssli sees the militia system not as an obstacle but as an advantage in technological transformation. Competencies from civilian life that a purely professional army could not build are valuable. Drone pilots or cyber specialists bring current knowledge from the private sector and return to service with newly acquired skills.

Dependency Issues and Cloud Strategy

Süssli criticizes the federal administration's switch to Microsoft 365 – including the Army. This is more expensive and provides no added value since classified data must still be stored locally. He advocates for an independent internal cloud solution with less dependence on third countries. With weapon systems like the F-35, he sees less room for maneuver since Switzerland depends on international cooperation.

International Cooperation and NATO Interoperability

Switzerland cannot defend itself autonomously – this central insight leads to an inescapable conclusion: The Swiss Army must cooperate with other armies and be interoperable. This requires years of preparation, which has already begun. Politics must create the legal framework. With new threats and technologies, adjustments will be necessary, particularly in the cyber realm.

Personal Reflection and Farewell

Süssli, who was unconventionally appointed Army Chief in 2018 (not from a combat unit, but after 25 years in the private sector), has advocated for unflinching honesty during his tenure since February 2022 – the day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. His camouflage uniform symbolizes this stance: The Army is part of Switzerland, and Switzerland must be combat-ready.

Looking back on his six years, Süssli says that change always provokes resistance, but that integrity and loyalty in the Army are higher than in comparable private companies. He will miss the closeness to the troops, the foreign trips, and access to intelligence information – but he will also seek to preserve the sense of purpose of his work for Swiss security in the future.

Key Statements

• Autonomous defense not possible: Switzerland cannot defend itself without international cooperation and NATO interoperability.

• Critical equipment gap: Only one-third of all soldiers are fully equipped; at the current pace, defensive readiness will not be achieved until 2050.

• Russia is a real threat: Intelligence services warn of possible escalation from 2028 onward; cyberattacks, disinformation, and espionage are already occurring in Switzerland.

• Insufficient threat awareness: Historical absence of war on Swiss soil, spatial distance from Ukraine, and false confidence in neutrality lead to underestimated threat perception.

• Innovation over "Swiss finish": The new NDP digitalization platform is a pragmatic solution without luxury overhead; innovation cycles must align with Ukraine war standards.

• Militia system remains an advantage: Competencies from civilian life are essential for rapid technological adaptation and cannot be replicated in a professional army.

• Question dependency critically: Cloud solutions should be less dependent on individual third countries; with weapon systems, international dependence is often unavoidable.

• Political will required: Parliament has taken initial steps (credit framework +4 billion francs), but structural federal deficit and long-term supply chains are obstacles.

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