General Assembly of the Cantonal Officers’ Association of Thurgau – the CdA with guest speaker.
The Officers’ Association of Thurgau met for the 198th time in the dignified town hall in Weinfelden. Over 140 participants from the association, politics, business and the army made for a remarkable plenary session. In his guest speech, Thomas Süssli, Chief of the Armed Forces, succeeded in describing the current and future situation of the Swiss security reserve. Greetings
Sonja Wiesmann Schätzle delivered the greetings of the Thurgau government as a new member of the cantonal government. She said she was committed to a strong army and thanked the Officers’ Association for its commitment.
In his welcoming address, the President of the Swiss Officers’ Association, Colonel Dominik Knill, outlined the importance of fully equipping our army. Although the so-called “turnaround” is a great political goal, the troops and society are not yet sufficiently aware of this. He called for the funds to equip the battalions. Association
The President, Colonel Valentin Hasler, handled the usual association-related items on the agenda with aplomb. The overview of past events testified to the high motivation of the two societies – the Lake Constance Officers’ Society and the Frauenfeld Officers’ Society – to combine attractive association activities with the will to form opinions. It is shameful that one of the richest countries, the army, does not provide enough funds for the last security reserve. The 100,000 soldiers deployed are a farce if they are not equipped. Chief of the Armed Forces
Corps Commander Thomas Süssli (Chief of the Armed Forces) outlined his view of the world situation, the current conflicts and, in particular, the state of the Swiss Armed Forces as the main speaker.
Süssli emphasized the importance of the off-duty activities of the mostly volunteer boards of the officers’ associations. For the formation of opinion in Swiss civil society, it is important that those in the know also pass on their knowledge to non-military sections of the population. New starting position
“We have a problem,” said Süssli in his presentation. Since 2014, in view of the occupation of the Crimean Peninsula, it has been clear that Russia is pursuing a hegemonic strategy that calls into question the territorial integrity of European states. During his visits to the Baltic states, it became clear – in his view – that they were taking the threat posed by Russia seriously and were taking broad-based security policy measures accordingly. Switzerland, on the other hand, was challenged to make similar adjustments to its security reserve, i.e. its army. Süssli bluntly showed how the army looks today. Focusing the army and its resources on the probable threats has worked excellently for years. All missions could be fulfilled by the army. However, the global political situation now requires an increase – clearly formulated in the mandate. The large investments should also be considered in terms of the “peace dividend”.
The funds saved for the army over the last few decades amounted to almost exactly the amount that would have to be spent on the future. Equipment, not rearmament
The head of the army briefly outlined the investment challenges in this regard. At the moment, only two tank battalions, one artillery division, six infantry battalions and parts of the logistics are equipped. There is simply not enough material, and this is not immediately noticeable due to the alternating militia service. In an international comparison, the material capacity barely corresponds to a brigade.
Süssli illustrated the state of stockpiling with the monthly ammunition consumption of the Ukrainian armed forces. In one week, Ukraine fires as much ammunition as is produced in the whole of Europe in one month. Guarantor of sovereignty
In view of the “chaos” in the world, according to Süssli, Switzerland must once again become a credible guarantor of territorial and political integrity. This includes being fully equipped, but also prepared cooperation with partner states. After all, the protection of neutrality through cooperation comes into play when a neutral state is actively threatened by other states. Joint exercises and the use of infrastructure abroad in no way undermine Switzerland’s basic stance on neutrality, even if this is occasionally questioned by political representatives. Responsibility
A credible material base is also owed to the men and women in uniform. Nobody wants citizens to be exposed to unnecessary risks due to inadequate equipment. “We owe it to the militia,” says Süssli.
In view of technological developments and the asymmetry of conflict scenarios, Süssli expects the Swiss Armed Forces to be able to defend themselves from 2030 at the earliest. The investment backlog is only slowly being recognized in the relevant bodies, i.e. parliament and government. High level of professionalism
Switzerland’s militia army regularly impresses foreign partners. The high level of professionalism and extraordinary motivation must be taken into account. Setting
The event was framed by a performance by the Thurgau cantonal police. A musical formation that provides live and dignified support for the opening ceremony on the town hall square, the national and cantonal anthems and the tribute to the deceased members of the association not only upholds tradition, but also supports the importance of the concerns of an officers’ association. Colonel Marc Ramel, 01.11.2024
