Switzerland briefly awakened to the urgency of national defence following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — but has since drifted back into complacency, outgoing

army chief Thomas Süssli warned this week.

Reflecting on his six-year tenure as he prepares to step down, Süssli said Switzerland still lacks the readiness required to confront emerging security threats. “Our response capabilities must be further strengthened,” he told reporters, stressing that geopolitical tensions have not eased.

Süssli acknowledged what he called a “cultural shift” within the armed forces since he took command in 2019, noting improved visibility and greater public engagement. Yet he lamented that the military has fallen short in communicating its needs, particularly the necessity of reinforcing defence spending and capabilities.

His warning comes as Russia continues to assert pressure in Europe and seeks to sow division among Western nations. For Switzerland, Süssli suggested, the danger lies not only in external threats but in allowing awareness to fade. Photo by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from Washington D.C, United States, Wikimedia commons.