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Swiss Army Chief Warns Russia Readying for Wider War, Says Neutrality Alone Offers No Protection
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European intelligence agencies are warning that Russia is preparing for further escalation with the West, and doubts about the threat posed by Moscow have largely disappeared across Europe, Thomas Süssli, the outgoing chief of the Swiss Armed Forces said in an interview with the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) published on December 27.
According to Süssli, European intelligence assessments indicate that Russia could be ready to expand the war beyond Ukraine later this decade.
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“Intelligence agencies are warning, based on information, that Russia is preparing for further escalation with the West,” he said, adding that European defense officials increasingly point to 2028 as a possible timeframe for heightened risk.
Süssli also challenged Switzerland’s understanding of neutrality, warning that neutrality alone offers no protection in the face of modern threats from countries such as Russia.
“There’s the notion that neutrality automatically provides protection. But that’s historically inaccurate. There are several neutral countries that were unarmed and were drawn into war,” he stated.
“Neutrality only has value if it can be defended with weapons,” Süssli continued.
He stressed that these assessments should not be seen as alarmism but as preventative warnings.
“These are not prophecies, but warnings. They are intended to ensure that Europe does everything possible to prevent such a situation from arising in the first place,” he said.
General noted that, at a recent security forum in Warsaw, the debate was no longer about whether Russia is a threat, but “only how to counter it.”
According to Süssli, Moscow’s strategy goes beyond the battlefield in Ukraine and includes hybrid tactics aimed at destabilizing Europe, such as cyberattacks, disinformation, espionage, and sabotage.
He said that Russia seeks to reassert itself as a major power and expand its influence over neighboring countries, viewing the West as a vulnerable direction for such expansion.
Previously, it was reported that Switzerland must be prepared to work with other armed forces in the event of drone incursions, Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister said in an interview with Neue Zürcher Zeitung.
Pfister underscored the growing risks of cyberattacks and drone intrusions, pointing out that there is a need for improvement in the country’s defense capabilities against unmanned systems. He added that Switzerland will soon present a dedicated system to counter such threats.
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