Security policy committee wants more funding for the army
Published: Thursday, Apr 25th 2024, 19:40
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The Security Policy Committee of the Council of States (SiK-S) has spoken out in favor of rapidly strengthening the army's defence capabilities. It is therefore proposing that a commitment credit of CHF 660 million be added to the 2024 armaments program for the purchase of ground-based air defence equipment.
This was announced by the committee after discussing the 2024 Armed Forces Dispatch on Thursday evening. It also unanimously recommended that the Council approve the federal decree on the 2025 to 2028 payment framework for the armed forces. By 7 votes to 2 with 3 abstentions, it requested that the expenditure ceiling be raised to CHF 29.8 billion in order to ensure that the army budget reaches the target value of 1 percent of gross domestic product by 2030.
The SiK-S also unanimously recommends that the Council approve the federal resolutions on the basic parameters for the army's orientation until 2035, on the procurement of army equipment in 2024 and on the DDPS 2024 real estate program.
It also proposed by 12 votes to 1 abstention that the federal decree on the 2024 armaments program be approved with one amendment. It adopted a motion by 7 votes to 2 with 4 abstentions to add a commitment credit of CHF 660 million to the armaments program for the purchase of medium-range ground-based air defence equipment.
In view of the deteriorating security situation in Europe, the majority believe that Switzerland, like many other European countries, should improve its defense capabilities as quickly as possible.
The committee also passed a motion by 8 votes to 5 instructing the Federal Council to draft a federal law on an extraordinary contribution to Switzerland's security and peace in Europe in view of the war against Ukraine.
The aim is to create a temporary fund governed by special legislation to cover the entire additional financial requirement of CHF 10.1 billion from 2025 onwards for retrofitting the armed forces up to 2030. In addition, the Swiss contribution to support the reconstruction and repair of the infrastructure necessary for daily life and survival in Ukraine is to be financed to the tune of CHF 5 billion.
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