Swiss Armed Forces XXI - The Answer to Current or Future Threats?
Abstract
A changed security environment after the end of the Cold War forced Switzerland, Austria, and Sweden to reassess their secunty policy. New threats and challenges such as international tenonsm, weapons of mass destniction (WMD), organized crime, the greater disparity of wealth and increased migration have replaced traditional militaryy threats. Larger non-military concerns like peacekeeping operations, humanitarian support, and support to civil authonties have replaced territorial defense. All of which require international cooperation. Following a comprehensive security strategy, Switzerland, Austria, and Sweden aim to defend their territory, protect their population, and foster international peace and security. Austria and Sweden focus on integration in and solidarity with the Tiii%opec%ii Litioji (TTJ) and the %Th)Ji/1 At/c,iitic TJec%f)' ()J)%c,!1i-c,fio!1 ()N'AT()). Switzerland retains its perpeflial neutrality, but has shown increased international cooperation. Austna and Sweden model their An%ed Forces after the TTJPefcJ%%keJ(% Tc,sks and have small peacetime or%%anizations with a professional cadre and annual conscripts. The Swiss An%ed Forces XXI focus mainly on territorial defense and are or%%anized in accor- dance with universal conscription and a wartime or%%anization. Traditional political, social and economic aspects hinder Switzerland from follow- in%% a strai%4%fot'ward strate%%y toward solidarity and a ftindamental chan%%e in its An%ed Forces. Switzerland's new security policy and its An%ed Forces XXI do not ftilly meet the requirements to fi%4% new threats and challen%%es to%%ether with the inten%ational com- munity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA424566
Entities
People
- Marco Schmidlin
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School