Swiss government adopts broader security strategy for 2026

Hybrid threats, remote attacks and organised crime now sit at the centre of the government’s priorities. The strategy groups these risks under a security policy that must operate across civilian and military domains. Hybrid threats can pressure institutions and society through several channels, while remote attacks can reach Swiss targets without a conventional military incursion. Organised crime adds a domestic security dimension that cannot be handled by defence policy alone.

The emphasis on drones has made that shift visible. In December 2025, Parliament called for “immediate action” against drone attacks after several airspace breaches involving other countries. Defence Minister Martin Pfister later announced plans for a drone battalion by 2028. The army is also planning a drone centre to develop, test and deploy unmanned systems, according to related reporting cited by Swissinfo.ch.

These measures do not replace conventional defence. The third strategic priority is to strengthen Switzerland’s capacity to counter an armed attack, with cooperation from partner states included in the plan. Instead, military capability becomes one component of a wider structure that also covers surveillance, protection, law enforcement and institutional resilience.

The government is treating the security landscape as connected. A remote attack, a criminal network and a military threat may require different responses, but they can expose the same public systems and demand coordination between the same authorities.

Implementation began before the final strategy was signed. The Federal Council says relevant ministries were tasked with putting measures into practice at the start of the consultation process in December 2025. Officials justified that decision by pointing to the international security situation and increasing instability. The final document now makes implementation more concrete and binding.

Coordination will be handled by the State Secretariat for Security Policy within the Federal Department of Defence. A steering committee, requested by several political parties, has also been established. It will include representatives of the Confederation and the cantons, reflecting Switzerland’s federal structure and the practical role of regional authorities in policing, civil protection and crisis management.

Political parties broadly welcomed the strategy, but they also demanded clear prioritisation. That warning matters because 46 measures span several policy fields, while responsibilities are distributed among federal departments, cantons and private operators. A long list without sequencing could make accountability difficult.

The government must submit a progress report by the end of 2028. That deadline will provide the first formal test of whether the strategy has produced operational changes rather than another policy framework. It will also coincide with the planned creation of a drone battalion, giving Parliament and the public a concrete marker for assessing delivery.

The strategy changes Switzerland’s traditional security debate by linking defence to everyday resilience. For decades, discussions about national security often centred on the army, neutrality and the ability to defend territory. The 2026 strategy keeps armed defence in the framework, but it gives equal policy weight to civilian systems, critical infrastructure and internal security.

That broader definition reflects how modern disruption reaches Switzerland. A threat may target a public institution, a communications network, an economic dependency or an airport’s airspace. The response may require soldiers, police, intelligence officials, emergency services, cantonal authorities and private infrastructure operators to work from a common plan.

The strategy also gives cooperation a more explicit place. Switzerland’s ability to counter an armed attack will include work with partner states, while the domestic implementation structure will bring the Confederation and cantons together. The government has not published, in the source material, a detailed ranking of the 10 objectives or a full timetable for all 46 measures. Political pressure for prioritisation will therefore continue.

The next phase will be judged through budgets, responsibilities and measurable progress. By the end of 2028, Switzerland is expected to report on implementation. That report will show whether “comprehensive security” has become a functioning system across the country’s institutions, or remained a broad strategic label.