New report on Switzerland's security policy

According to a federal report, the security situation in Europe has become more unstable and unpredictable. Tensions and power-political rivalries in particular, and thus the risk of conflicts at border regions in Europe, have increased. Hybrid means of waging conflict, such as cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, had also become more prevalent. In addition, threats such as Islamist terrorism have not yet disappeared. Moreover, climate change will also lead to more frequent and more severe natural disasters.

The Federal Council's report, which is much shorter overall than previous security reports, summarizes nine goals for Swiss security policy:

1) the further strengthening of the Early detection of threats, dangers and crises in order to identify risks to Switzerland as early as possible in the increasingly volatile situation;

2) the Strengthening international cooperation, stability and security, in that Switzerland is committed to a rules-based international order and uses civilian and military means to help promote stability and security in the surrounding area;

3) a strengthened Alignment with hybrid conflict managementThe aim is to increase the protection and resilience of the state, the economy and society against phenomena such as cyber attacks and disinformation and, in particular, to gear the resources of the armed forces even more closely to the changed picture of conflict;

4) free opinion making and undistorted information, so that public and political discussion in Switzerland can take place freely and transparently, based on facts, and without disinformation, attempts to influence, and propaganda by state agencies or by agencies acting on behalf of states;

5) Strengthening protection against cyber threats, to further improve overall cyber risk resilience in Switzerland, taking advantage of both the risks and opportunities of digitization and new technologies;

6) Prevention of terrorismviolent extremism, organized and other transnational crime, so that no terrorist, violent extremist or serious criminal groups can establish themselves on Swiss territory;

7) Strengthening resilience and security of supply in the event of international crises, so that Switzerland can maintain its ability to function and act even in the event of prolonged supply disruptions;

8) Improving protection against disasters and emergencies and regenerative capacity, in order to strengthen the means of preventing and managing such hazards in the face of increasing risks (for example, from climate change);

9) Strengthening cooperation between authorities and crisis management so that, in view of the volatility of the situation and the concatenation of threats and dangers, cooperation between the various policy areas and instruments in Switzerland is further improved. This is the case both in the normal situation and in crises.

Implementation measures

In future, a security analysis is to be published once per legislative term. The consultation procedure for the current report will last until August 18, 2021, and will be approved by the Federal Council at the end of the year. For each of the objectives, the Federal Council lists various concrete measures that need to be implemented over the next few years. The individual policy areas as well as the armed forces, the intelligence service and also the Federal Customs Administration are working together on the measures.

 To the full report "Security Policy in Switzerland 

Source: Federal Council