Switzerland wants to buy fewer F-35 fighter jets from the USA than originally agreed. The government in Bern announced on Friday that the reason for this was the “foreseeable additional costs” for the aircraft that Washington had estimated. The Ministry of Defense should now procure “the maximum possible number of F-35A aircraft” within the financial framework of six billion francs (6.4 billion euros) approved in a 2020 referendum, it said.
The purchase of 36 F-35A fighter jets had originally been agreed with the USA. However, Washington has now claimed higher costs due to inflation, the development of raw material prices and other factors, the Federal Council also announced. How many fighter aircraft could be purchased for the estimated six billion francs “we cannot yet say today,” Defense Minister Martin Pfister told journalists. It is also not yet known how much more the aircraft will cost. This depends on what the US government negotiates with aircraft manufacturers and suppliers.
The Federal Council emphasized that because the financial framework decided upon in the referendum was adhered to, “there is no need for additional credit and the will of the people is being met.” Among other things, because 13 other European countries rely on the F-35, it is “not an option” to do without the US fighter aircraft. For a “comprehensive air defense that is geared to the current threat situation,” “55 to 70 modern combat aircraft are needed,” the Federal Council explained. A further increase in air defense is being examined.
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to stop fighting, according to US President Donald Trump. Trump said he had spoken on the phone with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and that they had agreed to “cease all hostilities starting tonight,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. It was unclear which time zone he was referring to. At the time of the post it was already night in the region. The two countries themselves did not initially confirm the agreement.
