Switzerland Suspends Patriot Payments Over Delays

ZURICH, Switzerland — The Swiss government announced on Wednesday that it will continue suspending payments to the United States for a Patriot air-defense missile system order until Washington provides firm delivery dates, while keeping the possibility of canceling the deal open amid ongoing delays.

Switzerland ordered five Patriot systems in 2022 for delivery starting this year and completion by 2028, but the schedule has been pushed back since last July, when the U.S. Defense Department informed Bern that shipments would be delayed to prioritize military aid to Ukraine. The non-NATO nation first halted payments last autumn in response to the uncertainty. In a statement, the defense ministry said the delivery timeline and related payment milestones remain unclear, prompting the continued freeze.

Defence Minister Martin Pfister emphasized that while the government still anticipates receiving the systems, all options are under consideration. "We are currently negotiating all possible options with the United States, and that includes a potential termination," Pfister told reporters at a news conference. He added that the conditions for any cancellation are not yet defined. Pfister...