Switzerland wants to join the multi-billion-dollar Sky Shield initiative to protect Europe from ballistic missiles

Last year, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, Germany initiated a project to protect Europe from ballistic missiles. The initiative was called Sky Shield. Switzerland plans to join it.

Here's What We Know

Sky Shield is a pan-European missile defence system project, which, in addition to Germany, has been joined by almost two dozen states. They include the UK, Sweden and Finland. Chancellor Olaf Scholz believes a pan-European missile defense system could be built in five years.

Rumors that Switzerland could join the Sky Shield caused concern among supporters of neutrality. They believe such a move would make the country dependent on NATO and potentially put it at risk.

All nations have the right to choose which anti-aircraft missile systems to use. For example, Germany will use domestic medium-range IRIS-T SLM systems, the American MIM-104 Patriot and the Israeli Arrow-3. A purchase of an Arrow-3 would cost about $4.3 billion.

Sky Shield has not yet been joined by France. Emmanuel Macron is not happy with the project's reliance on non-European air defence systems and leaves out the Franco-Italian SAMP/T system, which is the Patriot counterpart. In addition, the French president believes that more emphasis should be placed on the development of long-range weapons rather than missile defence.

Source: Reuters