Switzerland Strongly Displeased with the U.S. Misappropriating Military Purchase Funds

On March 26, Xinhua News Agency reported from Geneva (Reporter Wang Qibing) that an investigation confirmed by the Swiss Federal Office for Defense Procurement shows that the United States has redirected funds paid by Switzerland for the purchase of F-35 fighter jets to other Swiss military procurement projects. This move has sparked strong dissatisfaction in the Swiss Federal Assembly.

The report stated that due to Switzerland's suspension of payments to the United States for the purchase of the Patriot air defense missile system in September 2025, the U.S. has redirected the funds intended for the purchase of F-35 fighter jets to the aforementioned transaction.

Urs Lör, head of Swiss procurement, said that this action by the U.S. has created a funding gap in Switzerland's F-35 fighter jet procurement project, putting immense pressure on the Swiss Ministry of Defense.

Werner Salzmann, a member of the Swiss People's Party and an expert on Swiss security policy, stated that the U.S. action is "outrageous," and Switzerland needs to seriously consider whether to continue signing military sales contracts with the U.S.

Priska Seiler Graf, a member of the Swiss Social Democratic Party, expressed hope that Switzerland will try to avoid purchasing weapons from the U.S. in the future.

In 2022, Switzerland ordered five Patriot air defense missile systems from the U.S., with delivery planned for 2028. In July 2025, the U.S. informed Switzerland that delivery would need to be postponed, leading Switzerland to suspend subsequent payments. Previously, Switzerland had paid 650 million Swiss francs (approximately 1 dollar equals 0.79 Swiss francs) to the U.S. In the same year, Switzerland also spent 6 billion Swiss francs to order 36 F-35 fighter jets from the U.S.