France preps for Strait of Hormuz mission, US announces withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany and neutral Switzerland takes part in NATO exercise

Good morning and welcome to the Alpine Security Monitor which looks at security across Europe's most economically powerful region—something that makes this neck of the woods necessarily relevant. But with such wealth, perhaps with the exception of France, comes great reluctance to take on challenges that might imperil such comforts. There is however less reluctance to comfort the afflicted—by which I do not mean as Frantz Fanon had it, the wretched of the earth in the sense of the poor and the downtrodden, as the Statue of Liberty has it, but rather the truly wretched: the misanthropic oligarchs, the Russians, the world's kleptocrats.

Corruption and elite cronyism or amigokultur as the Swiss say, putting a slightly more positive spin on the insidious, is everywhere these days. If I have one value added proposition as someone who will never quite be viewed as an "amigo" in such terms because I am not and will never be Swiss because Switzerland might be an idea but it is also a blood and soil terrain contrary to the mythos here, and also am not corrupt, law abiding, tax paying, etc., it is not to be more righteous than thee but to smell a rat and call it one. And my darlings, there are so many, where to begin?

Why not in Venice, with another nod to a literary great Thomas Mann and Death in Venice, also the title of a Baltic-led protest against this year's Biennale. With the opening of the biennale, there was supposed to be the first of two steps this week to normalize, in the Russian sense, a completely abnormal situation. One wonders who or what provoked the Biennale's director Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, "A rightwing former journalist" who "has spoken admiringly in the past of Vladimir Putin", as the BBC reports, to invite a country officially sanctioned across Europe and imperil European Commission funding for his enterprise. The situation has provoked protests and embarrassed the host government. Further, with an amigo like Putin on board, who needs enemies? Handed a seat at the table, surely we will arrive at peace in our time.

The second step of course is tomorrow, the big day on Red Square where Putin will have his Victory Day parade without victory and without tanks and missiles and the usual accoutrement of a great big dictator on show. As The Financial Times reports at the start of this week, "Vladimir Putin hunkers down for fear of assassination" and The Associated Press adds, "Russia declares a truce in Ukraine to mark Victory Day. Kyiv says it'll cease fire two days earlier". That does not seem to be happening or holding.

Just yesterday, the Latvian army and public broadcaster reported drone violations of airspace in the early hours of May 7, with one hitting a fuel storage facility in Rezekne in the eastern Latgale region. It is utterly unclear whether the drones were Ukrainian and destined for Ust-Luga port on the Baltic Sea or any of the other attractive targets deep within Russia before being diverted intentionally or not onto NATO territory or if this is the beginning, the Narva scenario without Narva toted in the German press as Baltic destination X because it's all the same over there to so many in these parts. In either case, a Europe that cannot act or distinguish the rats from the amigos is destined for difficulties.

Welcome to the new Alpine Security Monitor! You can subscribe (and become a paid subscriber!) for weekly updates on security and geopolitics as it concerns the Alpine region, namely Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Switzerland (ok, little Liechtenstein and Monaco too when merited). If this was forwarded to you, welcome! Questions, complaints, musings, lucrative offers, misguided rants and related ephemera can all be addressed to the management, amanda.rivkin@securitydialogue.org. Now let's get to the week's news from around the Alpine region.

RED SEA – France moves aircraft carrier into position for Strait of Hormuz mission

Reuters reports Wednesday that France "deployed its carrier strike group to the Red Sea as part of planning for a potential mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz".
In a statement, the French Army said, "the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier group, which is accompanied by an Italian and Dutch warship, was en route to the southern Red Sea." Currently, "The deployment aims to assess the regional operational environment, expand crisis-management options to strengthen security, enable the integration of partner countries' assets within a defensive framework consistent with international law, and help reassure maritime trade stakeholders". All that when the regional operational environment can be described as not great at best.
The four week-old ceasefire between the US and Iran is barely holding and seems to be fraying overnight though oil dropped below $100 a barrel mid-week on the prospects of something that could be called a peace deal by both sides raised hopes of a resolution or at least a solidifying of the current stalemate.

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US – Hegseth announces withdraw of 5,000 troops from Germany

CNN reports last Friday that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced "the US will withdraw roughly 5,000 troops from Germany over the next year".
US President Donald Trump said it is just the beginning as the decision comes "after Trump lashed out" at German Chancellor Friedrich Merz "over his criticism of the US war with Iran". Trump also threatened "to cut troop levels in Italy and Spain as well."
Republican Senators Roger Wicker and Mike Rogers "urged the Pentagon to keep US troops present in Europe by moving them to the east". The decision leaves some 30,000 troops in Germany.

ARAXOS, GREECE – Switzerland takes part in NATO 'Tiger Meet' exercise

Swissinfo reports Monday that "The Swiss Air Force is represented in Araxos (Greece) by five F/A-18 combat aircraft."
Switzerland is joining 12 other squadrons from nine countries from May 4 to 15 in training for what a government press release termed "realistic scenarios" in order "to compare and improve the military capabilities of the various forces."
With more than 50 fighter jets and 1,500 airmen expected to participate, the exercise seeks to enhance "transatlantic defence capabilities and develop interoperability between NATO and partner countries".

PARIS, FRANCE – Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon announces 2027 presidential run

The Guardian reports Monday that far-left perennial presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon announced his fourth campaign for the presidency on Monday by denouncing the US and Israel war against Iran in the Middle East.
"The 74-year-old veteran leader of La France Insoumise (LFI)," said that, "We are threatened by a widespread war, we are threatened by a spectacular change in the climate, and now we have an economic and social crisis approaching," in what can only best be described as a cheery and uplifting vision for his 2027 bid for the French presidency.
The "one-time Trotskyist", which is quasi-sympathetic given the alternative in Leon Trotsky's time was Joseph Stalin, "and former teacher," was formerly aligned with the Socialist Party as a minister and earlier in his career, as a Senator. In 2008, "He quit", denouncing the party as not "properly leftwing" and realigning himself conveniently with Kremlin talking points. He previously ran in 2012, 2017, and 2022. Last month, his former party accused him of "intolerable antisemitic comments" and "caricature conspiracy theories" after comments at "public rallies in which he questioned the pronunciation of the name of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and then appeared to deliberately stumble over Rapaël Glucksmann's name, the French centre-left member of the European parliament, who is Jewish."

BOURGES, FRANCE – Up to 40,000 gather for illegal rave at French military site

France24 reports Saturday that authorities estimated up to 40,000 people gathered at "a vast firing range near the central French town of Bourges" for an illegal rave where "Bomb disposal experts had to intervene after a shell was discovered near a road passing through the party site".
The French parliament is currently seeking "to tighten legislation against unauthorised rave parties, including prison sentences for organisers and fines for attendees." The prefecture said that "Despite its illegal nature, the government has mobilised to ensure the safety of this event and limit any disturbances". The military site itself has been in continuous use for the past century and a half. Some of those in attendance said the event was a protest against the proposed legislation, "a strong message against repression" in the words of one 19 year old. In total though, 600 police and 45 firefighters were deployed for reasons of public safety.
Given the size of the crowds, there were only a dozen reported injuries as one person was struck by a vehicle "and a number of the injured people had cut themselves while handling sharp shrapnel."

LUCENAY, FRANCE – Father of two charged with abusing, raping 34 very young children

El País reports last Friday that "A 40-year-old man with no prior criminal record and a father of two," named only as Romain G. by authorities, "has been formally charged with raping and sexually abusing 34 children between the ages of 3 and 9 between 2020 and 2024 in Lucenay, a town of just over 2,000 inhabitants near Lyon."
The children went to school with his children. He "committed the acts when the children came to his house to play with his children during so-called 'sleepovers'", which "He filmed and photographed".
In December 2024, parents of three of the children went to the authorities who questioned Romain G. and held him in custody before releasing him at which point he attempted suicide which led to him being placed back in pre-trial detention. It was only then that "Investigators began examining his files and, after interviewing the three initial complainants and other children, expanded the investigation."

LEIPZIG, GERMANY – Two killed as car plows into crowd, driver ordered to psych ward

Reuters reports Monday that "Two people were killed and three others were seriously injured" when a 33 year old German national drove his Volkswagon SUV into a central pedestrian zone. On Tuesday, Deutsche Welle reported the suspect was ordered to a psych ward while "Prosecutors said they do not believe the suspect had a religious or political motive."
Police arrested the driver and "said there was no further danger." The suspect "surrendered without resistance".
A series of vehicle-born attacks have rocked Germany in recent years, "some of which involved religious or political motivations and some carried out by people with mental health issues."

VIENNA, AUSTRIA – Austria expells three Russian 'diplomats' for spying

Reuters reports Monday that Austria declared three Russian diplomats persona non gratae over what the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled an "antenna forest" atop buildings used by the Russian embassy in Vienna which "could be used for spying".
According to the report, "Numerous satellite dishes placed on buildings used by the Russian state in Vienna, particularly a residential complex for diplomatic staff, have long attracted the attention of Austria's main domestic intelligence service," as well as been the subject of recent media reports.
Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger called it "unacceptable that diplomatic immunity be used to commit espionage". Austria has expelled 14 Russian diplomats since 2020; from 2017 to 2019, Meinl-Reisinger's current post was occupied by Karin Kneissl, a current resident of Russia who made global headlines when Russian President Vladimir Putin was an invited guest at her wedding.

BURGENLAND, AUSTRIA – Man arrested over rat poison found in baby food

The BBC reports Satruday that police announced the arrest of a 39 year old man in connection with a case reported a few weeks ago in the monitor where rat poison was found in contaminated jars of HiPP brand baby food, leading to recalls in Austria and other countries.
The Slovak Spectator confirms the man authorities arrested is a Slovak national who "is a former employee of the company" who "previously worked at a HiPP facility in Gmunden, near Salzburg, where he lives" and that "During a search of his home, officers reportedly found rat poison." He allegedly sought €2 million ($2.34 million) from the manufacturer in an extortion attempt delivered by email, however the email "had not been noticed by HiPP until after the ransom deadline expired." The firm's CEO told Austrian newspaper Die Presse that the email had gone to an address that is only checked every two to three weeks.
In all, "A total of five contaminated jars were safely recovered in Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia before they could be consumed." Authorities have reason to believe at least one contaminated jar could still be in circulation "and have issued guidelines on how to recognise tampered jars."

FREISTADT, AUSTRIA – Five children injured after 'wartime relic' explodes under campfire

The New York Times reports on Sunday that "Five children were injured in Austria when a 'wartime relic' beneath their campfire exploded" at "about 8 p.m. local time Saturday".
A police spokeswoman said it was highly likely that the ordinance was World War II era "but that it was not possible to provide more definitive information while the investigation was ongoing." The children, aged 10 to 14, were attending a youth camp when the accident took place and "were taken to a children's hospital in the city of Linz" where they were treated for minor injuries.
Authorities on the scene "identified a second wartime relic at a nearby firepit." Bomb disposal units were called in to diffuse the ordinance.

ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND – Man on cruise ship with hantavirus outbreak treated in hospital

Swissinfo reports Wednesday that "A man infected with hantavirus is being treated at the Zurich University Hospital, the Swiss government said", adding that "there is currently no danger to the Swiss population."
The man had been a passenger on board the MV Hondius Atlantic Ocean cruise where several cases of hantavirus have been reported. The man had returned from a trip to South America with his wife in late April when he began showing symptoms. He went to the hospital in Zürich and "was immediately isolated." The Geneva University Hospital was able to confirm the test results. The man's wife shows no symptoms "but went into self-isolation as a precaution." Normally the disease is transmitted through rodents though there are rare cases of human-to-human transmission.
The ship was "hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak and marooned for days off the coast of Cape Verde with close to 150 people on board". On board, a Dutch couple and German national reportedly died and a British national is said to be in intensive care in South Africa.

BERN, SWITZERLAND – Intelligence service to open archives on Nazi doctor Josef Mengele

Israel's Ynet reports Monday that "Switzerland's Federal Intelligence Service announced it will allow access to the archival file of Dr. Josef Mengele, the SS physician at Auschwitz and one of the most infamous Nazi war criminals", who died of a stroke while snorkeling off the coast of Brazil long after the war ended in 1979.
The decision to open the files on Mengele comes "after years of rejected requests by historians to to review the material," as Swiss authorities cited the need to protects sources and methods but never Swiss complicity in assisting the Nazis loot their victims nor opening ski chalets for vacationing war criminals and genocidaires.
Access to the material "will be granted under conditions and restrictions will be determined later". Further, "the case will serve as a basis for a broader review of access policies to classified archival documents."

BERN, SWITZERLAND – Self-proclaimed 'King of Switzerland' wins victory in tank battle

Keystone-SDA news agency reports Sunday that "Jonas Lauwinger, the self-proclaimed 'King of Switzerland', has won a partial victory in the dispute over his armoured car," a decommissioned BRDM-2 armoured reconnaissance vehicle which he imported from Germany, "before the Bern Administrative Court", meaning, "The Road Traffic Office must reassess the withdrawal of his vehicle license and number plates."
In technical terms, "The Administrative Court has upheld Lauwinger's appeal on one point and partially overturned the decision of the cantonal safety directorate." The vehicle was initially registered in the canton of Zug but when Lauwinger moved to the canton of Bern, authorities moved to revoke his license and registration for the vehicle. The road traffic office challenged "the sharp edges on the armoured car." In what is next level permissive even by Swiss standards, "The Administrative Court stated that there is no regulation that fundamentally prohibits the registration of former military vehicles for civilian road traffic." Ergo, an inspection is required and "A withdrawal could only be justified on the basis of the results." On other points, "Lauwinger was unsuccessful" but he still has the opportunity to appeal to the Federal Supreme Court.
At 31, Lauwinger acquired his "kingdom," which is comprised of ownerless properties that he registered, including in some cases "neighborhood streets". Politicians have expressed concerns over abuse of the law but mostly he is treated as an oddity and curiosity in the press and among the Swiss who seem rather unaware that royalist type networks elsewhere have generally had some foreign, often Russian, involvement.

ZÜRICH, SWITZERLAND – Riots break out on fringes of May Day parade

Swissinfo reports Sunday that "Riots broke out on the fringes of an unauthorised demonstration in Zurich's district 4 on Saturday night" before "police pushed the demonstration back and eventually broke it up."
After midnight, demonstrators threw "bottles, stones and fireworks" at police positioned along Hohlstrasse and "A police car was also damaged."
Authorities report demonstrators "caused damage to property, barricaded an access road and started a fire" which "was extinguished by the professional fire brigade from Zurich's protection and rescue service." There were however "no reports of injuries on Sunday." The Discourse™

CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND – Criminal complaint filed against rescue workers

Swissinfo reports last Friday that a criminal complaint was filed by lawyers of the victims of a tragic New Year's Eve bar fire which killed 41 mostly young people and injured over 100 more against rescue workers who responded to the disaster citing "shortcomings in the care of the injured immediately after the fire."
Italian lawyer Fabrizio Ventimiglia told Switzerland's Italian language public broadcaster RTS that, "There was a lack of stretchers, but above all a lack of rescue blankets and oxygen cylinders," which he described as "essential so that all the injured could breathe immediately".
RTS also reports that "the public prosecutor's office intends to open a criminal investigation into the rescue measures." Thirteen people have already been charged as part of "the main investigation" while the Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has criticized the indignation of the Italian Ambassador, according to Swissinfo. Another non-amigo.

VENICE, ITALY – Russia's return to Biennale breaches EU sanctions

The Financial Times reports Wednesday that "The Venice Biennale will breach EU sanctions if it includes Russia's national pavilion, Brussels has warned Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Italian government".
The European Commission warned both Rome and Biennale organizers "in letters seen by the FT" that permitting Russian participation "would violate a ban on 'providing services' to the Kremlin".
Biennale President Pietrangelo Buttafuoco's decision to re-invite Russia four years into its full-scale invasion and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine "has embarrassed Meloni's government." On Wednesday, feminist collectives Pussy Riot and Femen staged protests outside the pavilion and waved the Ukrainian flag.

And finally…

PARIS, FRANCE – Musée d'Orsay opens gallery with orphaned art looted by Nazis

The Associated Press reports Wednesday that the Musée d'Orsay opened its first ever gallery dedicated "to the orphaned masterpieces of the Nazi era" which were looted from their former, primarily Jewish owners prior to their forced exile or death in extermination camps across Europe.
In what is being billed as "the first such display in France", the works "are hung so visitors can read the backs" and therefore chart the journey revealed by "The stamps, labels and inventory" which show "how each piece of art moved from private homes into Nazi hands."
In France, there are approximately 2,200 such works where "No heir came forward" to claim the works as part of their family's collection or ancestral heritage. In such cases where the works were "never claimed", France "does not own them but holds them in trust for heirs who may yet appear." In total, the Musée d'Orsay owns over 200 such works.

Stay safe amigos!

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