Switzerland weighs European option as Patriot delivery stalls

Switzerland is reassessing its air defense plans after the United States postponed delivery of Patriot missile systems, with a European alternative now under consideration.

Washington has indefinitely delayed the delivery of five Patriot anti-missile battery units to Switzerland, prioritizing Ukraine instead. The move has prompted frustration among Swiss lawmakers and raised questions about the country’s long-term defense procurement strategy, the SWI swissinfo news reported on Monday.

At the center of the discussion is the US-made MIM-104 Patriot system, whose delivery timeline has become uncertain.

A European alternative emerges

As doubts over the Patriot timeline persist, attention has turned to the SAMP/T, one of the few credible alternatives. The Medium Range/Land-based Surface-to-Air Defense System is developed by a Franco-Italian consortium and led by the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation, a European body.

According to the Swiss paper NZZ am Sonntag, the producers have signaled readiness to move quickly. “If Switzerland places an order today, we could deliver our system by 2029,” it reported.

The prospect of faster delivery has become a significant factor in the debate, given concerns about the risk of aerial threats to Switzerland.

Political frustration over US delays

Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have expressed dissatisfaction with the postponement.

Green Party parliamentarian Clarence Chollet said, “I view this European alternative very favorably. It is also the government’s desire to work with European partners. The Patriot system will not arrive in Switzerland for years, or perhaps not at all.”

The defense ministry has not ruled out a change in course. Robert Scheidegger, deputy secretary-general of the ministry, indicated that the option was under review.

“You can assume that we have asked ourselves this question and that we will certainly discuss it in the Federal Council. We will then communicate, if necessary, the direction we will take,” he said.

In the coming weeks, the government is expected to clarify whether the United States will deliver the Patriots by 2030 and at what cost.

Broader European shift on defense

Switzerland’s deliberations come amid wider European efforts to reduce reliance on the United States for security.

At the Munich Security Conference, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described a turning point in transatlantic relations, saying, “Some lines have been crossed that cannot be uncrossed anymore.”

Tensions have intensified following US President Donald Trump’s push to annex Greenland, which has heightened doubts in Europe about Washington’s long-term commitment to sustain its military affiliation with the continent through the NATO alliance.

While US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States wanted to work with Europe, he did not mention NATO in his conference speech.

Amid the situation, European authorities have pledged to accelerate defense efforts and rely less on the United States.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer committed in Munich to strengthening a “European pillar” within NATO.

Merz told the conference, “This new beginning is right under all circumstances. It is right if the United States continues to distance itself. It is right as long as we cannot guarantee our own security on our own.”

He also said he had begun talks with Macron about a European nuclear deterrence.

European countries have significantly increased defense spending and launched joint projects, including work on long-range strike missiles and ballistic missile defense cooperation. At the same time, debates continue over whether European Union defense initiatives should prioritize EU-based companies or remain open to broader participation.

Observers commenting on the developments have connected them with shifting transatlantic ties and growing European ambitions for greater strategic autonomy.

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