Secret contract reveals serious mistake by Viola Amherd

Critics have long warned of the additional costs associated with the F-35 purchase . But Viola Amherd apparently ignored them, as internal documents obtained by the NZZ am Sonntag show.

For years, the Federal Councilor had repeated, like a mantra, that Switzerland would purchase the 36 American stealth fighter jets at a fixed price. To support her claims, she relied in particular on a document described as "confidential," a copy of which was obtained by the Swiss-speaking Sunday newspaper.

This document was signed by the Swiss and American governments in December 2021. However, upon reading the contract, it becomes clear that it contains significant flaws. For example, the United States uses the term "fixed price" three times, but without ever specifically stating how much this price is, either in francs or dollars. Furthermore, the document reveals a problem of interpretation between the two parties: Switzerland and the United States do not understand the same thing by "fixed price."

According to the American interpretation, the term means that Switzerland pays the same price that the United States itself pays to the manufacturer. However, if this price changes on the American side, it will also change for Switzerland. In other words, the price can change – and this is exactly what is happening with Washington today.

Opponents of the F-35 purchase had warned against this scenario from the outset. "This is exactly what always happens with US arms sales," says National Councilor Priska Seiler Graf (SP/ZH), chairwoman of the Security Policy Committee. She was among the first to criticize the project.

Indeed, in arms deals, the United States has a habit of passing on additional costs to the buyer. But Viola Amherd has consistently dismissed these warnings. The National Council's Management Committee has now decided to open an investigation into Switzerland's purchase of the F-35s. The decision is to be officially announced on Tuesday.