The government is putting forward a new plan to finance defence.
The Defence Minister, Viola Amherd, says spending has been cut for the last few years – and it will take time to correct that.
Obviously, the change of heart follows Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At the time, the head of the army, Thomas Süssli, warned if there’s a threat to the country, Switzerland can only maintain a significant air defence for a month.
Amherd wants to change that and has put forward a spending plan for the next 12 years. She says she wants to strengthen defence capability.
The focus will be new artillery, upgraded tanks, and guided missiles for infantry.
The Ukraine war has shown these are the most important for defence, according to Amherd.
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