Gerhard Pfister wants closer ties with Nato after Trump’s election
Published: Sunday, Nov 10th 2024, 08:20
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Following the US election, Gerhard Pfister, leader of the Center Party, has called for closer ties with NATO. Some of Trump's announcements could also have a negative impact on Switzerland's security, Pfister said in an interview with the NZZ am Sonntag.
He was convinced that cooperation with the defense alliance was the right way forward in this situation, while at the same time emphasizing: "Always in strict compliance with neutrality." Switzerland would not be sending any soldiers anywhere. "I don't want to join NATO," Pfister made clear. However, coordinating with the NATO states is the absolute minimum.
In the future, Swiss F-35 fighter jets could be well integrated into European defense in the event of war, even if "not on the front line, of course". Switzerland could take on tasks as an air police force to relieve the Europeans. Because if Trump keeps his word, it will be dangerous in Europe. "If he wants to create a quick peace in Ukraine, as he has announced, it will be a peace in Russia's interest," said Pfister. On the question of whether Switzerland would be better off staying out of it, he said: "Then you have to make it clear to NATO that we want to and can defend ourselves completely if the worst comes to the worst. There are a few big question marks for me about the army's current defense capability."
DDPS sees operational readiness at risk
According to the Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), the actual number of members of the Swiss Armed Forces will fall to less than 140,000 by 2030. The reason for this is that the army is already losing over 11,000 members per year who leave before completing their compulsory military service. While those leaving for medical and other reasons have remained stable, those leaving for civilian service, which currently account for more than 60 percent, have increased.
The DDPS believes that these departures will jeopardize the army's funding and operational readiness in the medium term. Parliament and the Federal Council recently decided to take various measures to stabilize the army's numbers. On the one hand, the national government wants to allow the effective strength of the army to exceed the specified upper limit for a certain period of time. This is in view of the geopolitical situation.
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