With anti-austerity protests across Europe resulting in civil unrest on the streets of Athens and Madrid, Switzerland -- the European country famed for its neutrality -- is taking unusual precautions.
It launched the military exercise “Stabilo Due” in September to respond to the current instability in Europe and to test the speed at which its army can be dispatched. The country is not a member of the union or among the 17 countries that share the euro.
Swiss newspaper Der Sonntag reported recently that the exercise centered around a risk map created in 2010, where army staff detailed the threat of internal unrest between warring factions as well as the possibility of refugees from Greece, Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal.
According to the minister, some European countries - under pressure to save - didn't renew their armies as they could no longer afford the upkeep of modern systems.
He said that the situation could amplify dramatically, with countries that couldn't defend themselves facing the possibility of “blackmail.” In the paper, he also asked how long the crisis could be calmed with money alone.
Der Sonntag newspaper also reported that army chief André Blattmann is set to submit a proposal in December to utilize four battalions of military police. This will consist of 1,600 soldiers guarding strategic points in the country including the airport, industrial plants, and the international organizations in Geneva.
Read more: Swiss army prepares for euro zone unrest - World News
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