Bern has decided to accelerate the review of its national security strategy due to the deterioration of security across the Old Continent.
There is a country, in the heart of Europe, that has made neutrality the cornerstone of its foreign policy. An armed neutrality—and a very solid one at that—officially dating back to 1815, but with roots as far back as 1515. A neutrality also made possible by the country’s unique geographical position, nestled among the Alps.
We are talking about Switzerland, which in recent days—on December 12—took an unprecedented decision in its history: Bern has decided to bring forward changes to its national security policy. Generally, Switzerland updates its security strategy every 5–10 years, and the latest document dates back to 2021 (supplemented in September 2022 in light of the war in Ukraine). However, “given the deterioration of the security situation,” the Federal Council has launched a reorientation of security policy for the coming years, with the aim of “addressing the heightened threat level by strengthening Switzerland’s resilience, improving protection and prevention measures, and increasing the country’s defensive capabilities.”
The December 12 meeting officially opened the consultation process and tasked the relevant departments with its implementation, setting March 31, 2026, as the final deadline for consultations.
Bern has assessed that, due to the continued deterioration of the security environment in recent years, it is necessary to draft a new national security strategy in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders. This strategy will serve as an overarching guide for the country’s complex defense system, including the organization of the Armed Forces and the procurement of weapons systems, while also affecting civil society, the economy, and the academic world.
Overall, the new document aims to strengthen resilience by reducing critical vulnerabilities and dependencies, making the country less exposed to attacks and minimizing potential damage; to improve protection and prevention so that Switzerland is better prepared to avert possible attacks and to defend itself more effectively against their consequences; and to enhance defensive capabilities—that is, the ability to defend itself in the most effective way possible against an armed attack, if necessary in cooperation with partners.
Bern speaks of a “rapid implementation” of the new plan, taking into account the international situation, and foresees it becoming fully operational by 2028. It is important to clarify one aspect related to Swiss neutrality, especially in light of what happened at the start of the war in Ukraine. At that time, a strong debate emerged over the meaning and status of Swiss neutrality when, in February 2022, Bern adopted European Union sanctions against Russia. Nevertheless, Switzerland follows clear rules to preserve neutrality in military conflicts: it does not deploy its armed forces and does not allow the use of Swiss-origin weapons in wars.
The sanctions were imposed because Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was considered a “serious violation of the most fundamental norms of international law.” Not by chance, one of the main headquarters of the United Nations is located in Geneva.
Switzerland does not allow the direct shipment of weapons to war zones from or through its territory, but this has not been enough to counter Russian propaganda, which has portrayed Switzerland as aligned with the NATO bloc. The worsening of security conditions in Europe—namely the threat to the continent’s security posed by Russia—pushed Bern in July 2023 to join the integrated air defense mechanism ESSI (European Sky Shield Initiative), led by Germany.
But why is the early update of Switzerland’s national security document so important? It is the ultimate proof that the threat to the European continent is real—a threat Switzerland compares to the Soviet one during the Cold War, when houses and apartment buildings in the country were constructed with nuclear shelters. By deciding to rewrite its strategy ahead of schedule, Bern is also telling us that the time available to take protective measures is limited and that the threat is serious—if the goal is to be “better equipped,” that is, better armed, than it is today to confront it.