The new army chief, Benedikt Roos, will officially take office on January 1. Between Switzerland’s place in a changing world, an army immersed in business and scandals, the challenges awaiting this career soldier are numerous.
The challenges appear in abundance for Benedikt Roos, the new head of the army from January 1st. Starting with the numbers: Parliament included in the law a few days ago a minimum of 100,000 guaranteed soldiers.
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For Divisional Officer Raynald Droz, this is not enough. “The overall mass of the army, if we had to mobilize it, is too small for the challenges we would have to face in defense,” he warns on RTS 7:30 p.m.
Collaboration with the EU and NATO
Added to this are the challenges around intelligence. A strategic service where Switzerland is largely overwhelmed, according to independent expert Denis Froidevaux: “Do you realize that the Confederation’s Intelligence Service has fewer personnel than the Lausanne municipal police?”
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Benedikt Roos is an old-fashioned soldier who loves tanks. He will have to maneuver tactfully so that Switzerland works with the European Union and NATO. “It’s a political question, not a military one,” he said last April, before leaving to train in Austria with the German army, and before knowing that he would one day become the great leader of the army.
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Budget and increase
On the question of financing, the federal councilor in charge of Defense, Martin Pfister, for his part succeeded in mobilizing Parliament. Just before Christmas, the Chambers granted him an additional 70 million francs. In total, the army has almost three billion to equip itself.
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The debate divided elected officials. “It is time for us to wake up and participate in this defense effort,” welcomed national advisor Jacqueline de Quattro (PLR/VD). An opinion that his colleague at National Samuel Bendahan (PS/VD) does not share. “We put money in without it changing our security, because we don’t have a credible security plan,” he regrets.
Added to this long list of challenges are the F-35 file, the digitalization of the army, the defense system, drones, and the scandals linked to RUAG. Benedikt Roos’ mission promises to be intense.
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