This article dated April 2, 2024, examines Switzerland's preparedness for potential escalation of war in Europe, focusing on the hybrid warfare tactics Russia is deploying against the West and their implications for Switzerland's security. It argues that the threat goes beyond conventional military invasion, including cyberattacks on Swiss government websites, disinformation campaigns, sabotage of critical infrastructure like power grids, and attacks on civil society resilience. The Federal Council (Bundesrat) currently outlines four threat scenarios including internal security threats, remote attacks by weapons, direct military aggression, and hybrid conflict forms, with emphasis on hybrid threats but without fully confronting the reality. Switzerland, as a non-NATO state, must independently safeguard its interconnected critical infrastructure, especially energy and transport hubs, which are vital not only domestically but also for the European economy. The article highlights Germany's 'Operationsplan Deutschland' as a model coordinating military and civil authorities against hybrid threats and suggests Switzerland should develop a similar comprehensive plan ('Operationsplan Schweiz') encompassing all government and societal levels for defense, protection, and resilience. It stresses the need for societal cohesion, political consensus, and readiness to counter the Kremlin's efforts to undermine democratic institutions and exploit societal divisions. The article warns of increasingly likely attacks on Swiss critical infrastructure with long-range weapons or cyber means and underscores the importance of maintaining and professionalizing Switzerland's militia army as a deterrent. Overall, it portrays hybrid conflict as an ongoing, multi-dimensional threat and calls for a cohesive Swiss response integrating military, civil, and societal efforts to prevent and mitigate escalation.

This article dated April 2, 2024, examines Switzerland's preparedness for potential escalation of war in Europe, focusing on the hybrid warfare tactics Russia is deploying against the West and their implications for Switzerland's security. It argues that the threat goes beyond conventional military invasion, including cyberattacks on Swiss government websites, disinformation campaigns, sabotage of critical infrastructure like power grids, and attacks on civil society resilience. The Federal Council (Bundesrat) currently outlines four threat scenarios including internal security threats, remote attacks by weapons, direct military aggression, and hybrid conflict forms, with emphasis on hybrid threats but without fully confronting the reality. Switzerland, as a non-NATO state, must independently safeguard its interconnected critical infrastructure, especially energy and transport hubs, which are vital not only domestically but also for the European economy. The article highlights Germany's 'Operationsplan Deutschland' as a model coordinating military and civil authorities against hybrid threats and suggests Switzerland should develop a similar comprehensive plan ('Operationsplan Schweiz') encompassing all government and societal levels for defense, protection, and resilience. It stresses the need for societal cohesion, political consensus, and readiness to counter the Kremlin's efforts to undermine democratic institutions and exploit societal divisions. The article warns of increasingly likely attacks on Swiss critical infrastructure with long-range weapons or cyber means and underscores the importance of maintaining and professionalizing Switzerland's militia army as a deterrent. Overall, it portrays hybrid conflict as an ongoing, multi-dimensional threat and calls for a cohesive Swiss response integrating military, civil, and societal efforts to prevent and mitigate escalation.