The Swiss army has been facing a series of setbacks for several months in the context of hybrid warfare and unstable geopolitics. Army chief Benedikt Roos highlights the main challenges in the 19h30 news segment. The army is focusing on long-range threats and cyberattacks.
Switzerland “needs more security” as the geopolitical situation has evolved with the wars in Ukraine and Iran, according to Benedikt Roos. He also points out that Switzerland possesses “very important” critical infrastructures for all of Europe, which could destabilize the continent if attacked.
Benedikt Roos emphasizes that analyzing the intentions of belligerents is difficult today and the situation “can change very quickly.” He mentions the bombings in Dubaā in this regard.
“The question is not ‘the army needs more money’, but ‘Switzerland needs more security’,” stresses Benedikt Roos. He outlines two priorities for the army: “systems to combat missiles and drones” against long-distance threats, and secondly, “hybrid threats,” with cyberattacks happening “every day.”
“We really have gaps” in terms of air defense, admits Benedikt Roos, as the army faces delivery delays and cost increases for ordered materials.
Benedikt Roos also mentions that the army is assessing the need for more or fewer men and women: do they need more or less because the ordered systems “basically require fewer men”? The goal is to “be ready” when these systems arrive, he explains.
“My mission is to look forward,” emphasizes the army chief, who does not judge the previous cuts in the army. He specifies: “The policy sets the framework (…) and my mission is to seek the best solutions to equip our young women and men, so they have truly credible equipment.”
Interview on TV: Jennifer Covo
Web adaptation: Julie Liardet
/2026/04/19/69e51a7d54c5f601120262.jpg "Hauts-de")
