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It was supposed to be an explanatory video from the intelligence service. For some security politicians, on the other hand, it raises questions.
It begins with the title “Results from the Ukraine War” and an emotional sound mix: Das explainer video of the military intelligence service with its deputy chief Stefano Trojani as the main actor.
Shortly after a greeting with a very serious undertone, a sentence follows that can cause irritation: “It is unusual for representatives or members of the intelligence service to address the public,” says Trojani. The Swiss Army is trying to give first-hand information or considerations in order to be as close as possible to reality.
Legend:
The deputy chief of military intelligence, Stefano Trojani, is addressing the public on behalf of the army.
Screenshot Youtube
Geographic information follows, such as how Switzerland is smaller than Ukraine and how far the country is from us. The video provides retrospectives and security analysis, as well as Trojani’s assessment that “we have a ground and air dimension that have different characteristics and that are similar to Swiss territory.”
These and other parallels are strange, says Zurich National Councilor Marionna Schlatter, who sits on the Security Policy Commission for the Greens: “Switzerland is in a completely different situation than Ukraine.” That’s why she wonders. “Is this really necessary?”
A promotional video for army procurement?
For Schlatter, this action by the Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (VBS) looks more like a promotional video. «An attempt is made to justify why additional funds are needed for the military. The DDPS is in need of an explanation,” says Marionna Schlatter. She is also referring to the part of the video that explains why drones and tanks, for example, should be procured.
It sounds similar when asked about Ida Glanzmann. The National Councilor from the canton of Lucerne is on the Security Policy Commission and from the same party as Defense Minister Viola Amherd (Die Mitte). While she doesn’t have a problem with the video in principle, she also finds it a bit strange.
She is not the only representative of the center party who is putting a small question mark over this action. Thomas Rechsteiner, National Councilor from the canton of Appenzell-Innerrhoden, finds YouTube as a broadcast medium “certainly timely”. The video shows that the army has arrived in the digital age. But: «I look at the content a bit critically. It still needs additional explanations to understand how the Ukraine war can be adapted to Switzerland.”
There is support for the army from the canton of Bern, namely from SVP Councilor of States Werner Salzmann, also a member of the Security Policy Commission. He likes the video. And: “The task of the army is to clarify what the measures are behind the effects that you see. Now it’s the Ukraine war. That’s why I think it’s important to show what the consequences are for Switzerland.”
Army Chief: Information needs of the population
What does army chief Thomas Süssli say about the video? He himself shared the video on Twitter two days ago. The 55-year-old commented on the program “10vor10”: The explanatory video was created out of a need for information among the population.
“Over the last few weeks and months, we have noticed that there are many citizens, but also members of the army, who are interested in the conflict in Ukraine and what it means for the Swiss army,” says Süssli. Terms such as “hybrid warfare” would therefore be explained in the video.
When asked whether something like this is the task of the DDPS, the army chief replies: “In the DDPS we have the military intelligence service with experts. They constantly check what is happening in the world, what is happening in the Ukraine war. This legitimizes us to inform the citizens.”