Bern, January 26, 2024 – Due to the tense financial situation, the Swiss Armed Forces are cancelling the major events and other events planned for 2024 and 2025.
At the end of August this year, the air force was supposed to present itself at the Emmen military airfield with “AirSpirit 24”, and in 2025 the ground troops were supposed to present themselves at the “DEFENSE 25” event.
Public events are of great importance for the army in order to build trust and reputation. Since they now train for their missions primarily at weapons ranges and therefore generally far away from the population, the visibility of the troops is limited. Due to the tense financial situation, the army is now foregoing a significant portion of the planned public events.
In 2024, the waiver applies, among other things, to the “AirSpirit 24” event, which was intended to give the interested public the opportunity to get an idea of the Air Force’s performance in Emmen at the end of August. Up to 80,000 visitors were expected. In 2025, among other things, an event called “DEFENSE 25” was planned in Bière, at which the ground troops were supposed to present themselves. In addition, the army will also refrain from organizing a number of other originally planned events in the next two years.
Source:
vtg.admin.ch/de/armee.detail.nsb.html/99848.html
