Swiss-Tunisian aid worker freed, US and Ukrainians meet in Geneva over 'Kremlin wishlist' 'peace plan' and Switzerland wants more F-35s, maybe

Welcome to the Alpine Security Monitor, where we are watching France claim 3,000 volunteer troops will protect France and Europe while The Wall Street Journal reports German generals drew up a plan already two and a half years ago for how 800,000 troops would have to move across their country to find their way to Europe's eastern frontline to protect freedom and democracy, even as such things slip far behind the frontlines in a heady stew of lies, hate and political indecision. Yet, some still think Russia wants peace?

Over the last week, the French Gen. Fabien Mandon stirred controversy with his plain assessment that, "We must be prepared to lose children" in an address to the congress of mayors, Euronews reports. As a result, Le Monde's Sylvie Kauffmann wrote in The Financial Times that Gen. Mandon was "branded as a warmonger" by the far left and the far right. The political response from Macron was to announce a new voluntary military service but also to "dispel any confusion that we are going to send our young people to Ukraine". The plan, France 24 reports Thursday, "stops short of conscription" but also stopped well short of seriousness, too.

Even and those who seek answers, especially, struggle now. The world we knew was – is lost. In Europe, the continent off America's east coast has maybe noticed some symptoms of the cold of a lost decade, if not decades. Europe likely has pneumonia already but is only now noticing the shivers, the temperature, the slow loss of oxygen, but the fever has been there for some time. The cheap Russian energy is largely gone, America is winding down footing the bill for security on the continent but there is still the summer holiday in the south and the taxes are still going to education and health care. A normal citizen who cannot be bothered with the news feels nothing but the stirrings they are made to feel by the elites, by the media and by their own milieu.

America did more than sneeze, it lost its longest war. The nation born of insurgents in the most successful revolution in world history lost to a terror bolstered by a medieval ideology and quieted its better angels in the process. And so Europe, a continent of nation-states forged from empires who fought one another in endless wars, has lost its appetite for a certain kind of war of centuries past, preferring instead the grand illusion of the war on terror, namely that drones can scale back the casualty count and keep a nation safe. What is a "drone wall" after all, if not a technological fantasy built on medieval constructs?

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!

TUNIS, TUNISIA – Octogenarian Swiss-Tunisian aid worker freed after 20 months in jail

Swissinfo reports Tuesday that Mustapha Djemali, an 81-year-old aid worker, was freed from a Tunisian prison after being accused with four others "of setting up an organization to 'help migrants enter the Tunisia illegally' and provide them with shelter."
Djemali is "a senior UNHCR official for more than 20 years" and the "founder of the Tunisian Refugee Council". Along with the project manager, Djemali had already spent 20 months in prison when he received a two-year sentence. His lawyer told Agence France Presse that the result is the two would be released Monday evening, while three others were acquitted.
His daughter Yusra Djemali called the conviction "unfair" but added "what matters is he's coming out of prison tonight". During the hearing Monday, Djemali "gave an emotional defence of his work".

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – US, Ukrainian officials meet to treat phony peace as real

ABC News reports US and Ukrainian officials met in Geneva at the US Mission Sunday to discuss a 28-point "peace plan" billed as a US document but which appeared to be a Russian "wishlist" – or so Marco Rubio told Senators attending the Halifax Security Forum in Canada late Saturday, before reversing course and stating the "plan was authored by US", at least according to this New York Post headline. By Monday, The Financial Times reported the 28 points had been reduced to 19 points with heavy input from the Ukrainians and the new draft "bore little resemblance to the earlier leaked version," according to Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Sergiy Kyslytsya.
Representing the US: National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Steve Witkoff, the golf buddy of American President Donald Trump who is ostensibly the Special Envoy to the Middle East and so-called peace projects; Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll; the US Ambassador to Ukraine Julie Davis; first son-in-law and husband of Ivanka, Jared Kushner; State Department Counselor Michael Needham; Deputy National Security Advisor Andy Baker and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Alexus Grynkewich. The Ukrainians present included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's top advisor Andriy Yermak and the head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov.
Afterwards, Rubio repeatedly called the talks "most productive" and given that by Monday, "the most contentious points – including territorial issues and relations between Nato, Russia and the US" were all "placed in brackets", that is likely the case. Politico reports even the Europeans managed to blow past statements of concern to finagle a seat at the table. And while Trump wanted the whole war – er, "peace deal" – wrapped up by Thanksgiving, Politico reports Wednesday Rubio told European allies that a deal must come before US security guarantees, rendering the whole kerfuffle for something Trump can call a peace plan even less likely that one long week ago. And a conversation where Witkoff placates Russia's proxy Kirill Dimitriev over the phone leaked to Bloomberg.

BERN, SWITZERLAND – Swiss Defense Department wants more F-35s despite rising costs

Swissinfo reports last Sunday citing a report in SonntagsBlick that Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister "is reportedly proposing a two-stage strategy for purchasing F-35 fighter jets", proposing now the acquisition of 30 instead of 36 aircraft as previously negotiated and then 10 more jets at a later date.
The change in tactic comes after Washington announced "cost overruns" in the range of 750 million Swiss francs (€803 million or $930 million) to 1.3 billion Swiss francs (€1.4 billion or $1.6 billion). At the time the procurement of F-35s for Switzerland was announced, former Defense Minister Viola Amherd said the total cost would be 6 billion Swiss francs (€6.4 billion or 7.4 billion).
As part of the country's Rudolf Steiner approach to national security, the initial acquisition of the F-35s was put to a popular referendum five years ago and Swiss voters "narrowly approved" the measure. Those who did not approve and lost that vote can now draw their feelings, or more accurately, make noise.

BERN, SWITZERLAND – Two Green Party politicians ask for probe of gifts for Trump

Reuters reports Thursday that two Swiss Green Party politicians, Raphael Mahaim and Greta Gysin, "asked prosecutors to examine whether gifts by Swiss business leaders" for US President Trump violated anti-bribery laws.
This month, a delegation of business leaders from the luxury, watch, mining and investment sectors visited the White House and handed over a gold bar with Trump's name and a Rolex desk clock. In exchange, Trump agreed to reduce punitive tariffs on Switzerland from 39% to 15% in line with similar tariffs imposed on EU nations.
Reuters reported "a source close to the delegation said they complied with the laws of both countries." Nonetheless, the entire look confines with external stereotypes of Switzerland which are not necessarily in line with the self-perception the Swiss have of themselves as humble, neutral aesthetes – likely the real issue.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ceases operations

Swissinfo reports that the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which was supported by the US and Israel but not the United Nations, "announced on Monday that it had completed its mission in Gaza."
The GHF said in a statement that it had distributed "more than 187 million free meals directly to civilians" but Swissinfo, citing the UN Human Rights Office, notes, "More than 1,000 people were killed near GHF distribution sites".
While the US State Department and Hamas continue to spar over the effectiveness of the organization, with the State Department asserting that it stopped the Islamist terror group that was in control of Gaza before the war from siphoning off aid, Hamas insists that the casualty figure at the GHF distribution sites is unacceptable. Funding for the GHF, which was sent to Gaza in May following Israel's "two-month total blockade" on the Palestinian enclave, remains "opaque".

BERN, SWITZERLAND – Swiss participants in Gaza flotilla receive bill from government

Swissinfo reports 20 Swiss nationals who participated in the Gaza flotilla and were arrested and detained by Israel in October have been billed by the government for "reimbursement for services provided by the Confederation under consular protection, as well as emergency exoenses."
Switzerland's Federal Department of Foreign Affairs has billed the Gaza flotilla participants amounts ranging from 300 to 1,047 Swiss francs. The difference in amounts is due to "the workload related to consular protection provided to each citizen: interventions with Israeli authorities, visits to prison of varying lengths, as well as availability and assistance upon return to Switzerland." The 20 flotilla participants have 30 days to settle their bills. The flotilla participants announced they will appeal.
One participant, Sébastien Dubugnon, was billed 300 Swiss francs but said he was deported to Turkey and Turkey, not Switzerland, paid for his ticket home. Dubugnon also complained the consular officer was only able to visit him in prison for 10 minutes before he was kicked out after only seeing half of the group of Swiss citizens while offering no help. He described the experience as "total abandonment."

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Two brothers from Kosovo convicted of supporting ISIS

Swissinfo reports two brothers from Kosovo were sentenced to 30 and 53 months for supportiing the Islamic State terror group as well as Jabhat al-Nusra, in the case of the defendant who received the longer sentence, by a court in Geneva.
Additionally, the two were convicted of trying to bribe a magistrate in Kosovo and obstructing a criminal proceeding there, in addition to "financial offences, including fraud, money laundering and forgery." They were acquited on charges of participating in an Islamist organization in Kosovo known as the Viti Brothers.
The individual who received the 30-month prison sentence will be deported from Switzerland for five years in addition to a fine of 30 Swiss francs for 120-days imprisonment with 15 months of his sentence suspended. The second individual spent 1,181 days in prison already which will be deduced from his sentence. He cannot be deported because he is a Macedonian-Swiss dual national but he will pay 15 suspended day fines of 30 Swiss francs. Since he spent 149 days in jail more than his sentence, Swiss authorities will pay him 13,410 Swiss francs in "moral damages."

BERN, SWITZERLAND – Chinese national found guilty of human trafficking

Swissinfo reports a 39-year-old Chinese national was convicted in Bern last Friday of human trafficking and sentenced to 7.5 years, followed by deportation from the country for a minimum of 13 years.
Between 2018 and 2021, the convicted man had lured fellow Chinese nationals to Switzerland with the promise of work as "massage girls" before forcing them into prostitution.
The man claimed he brought them to apartments where they could choose what services they offered which the court did not believe, convicting him in the 10 charged offenses, with "more than 60 attempted offences to be fulfilled."

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – ICRC faces 17% reduction of global workforce or 2,900 jobs

Swissinfo reports last Friday the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) faces a 17% reduction of its workforce worldwide or 2,900 full-time jobs, including 200 positions at headquarters in Geneva.
Operations in the Middle East and Sudan will receive more funding at the expense of Ukraine "as the main operation".
Thirty delegations will feel the effect of the staff reduction, with many sub-delegations closing all together.

BERLIN, GERMANY – Leaked German war plan details 800,000 troops to protect Europe

The Wall Street Journal reports Thursday on a leaked "Operation Plan Germany" which "details how as many as 800,000 German, US and other NATO troops would be ferried eastward toward the front line", in addition to detailed infrastructure mapping for how to achieve this over 1,200 pages.
The classified report was drawn up by "A dozen senior German officers convened at the Julius Leber Barracks, a triangle-shaped military compound in Berlin about 2 ½ years ago".
German officials have already said Russia will be ready to attack NATO by 2029. Note: politicians are always slower than military leaders to trigger the alarm, so if the military says be ready yesterday or two and a half years ago and politicians say 2029, move your dateline closer to the military position.

GLICHING, GERMANY – Spy drone startup Quantum Systems secures €3 billion valuation

The Financial Times reports Friday that Gliching, Germany-based Quantum Systems secured a €3 billion ($3.5 billion) valuation, tripling its valuation and becoming one of the most valuable defense tech companies in Europe.
On Thursday, Quantum Systems secured a €180 million ($208 million) extension of funding led by Balderton Capital and US investors including Peter Thiel. This year, Quantum secured €340 million ($394 million) in fundraising.
The company's Chief Financial Officer Jonas Jarosch said he expected sales to double to €200 million ($232 million) this year while Quantum Systems mulls an IPO.

BERLIN, GERMANY – Family-owned business association removes ban on contact with AfD

Reuters reports Monday that Germany's association of family-owned businesses has lifted a ban it placed on contact with the far-right AfD, one signal of the party's "growing acceptability".
With nearly one-quarter of the German electorate supportive of the far-right AfD party, the president of the association Marie-Christine Ostermann said, "Indignation alone has exhausted itself as a political strategy". While she said she opposes the party and would not want AfD entering the government, "simple categorisations into 'good' and 'evil'" are not helpful and instead pushed for "dialogue".
Ostermann's association is the first major business organization "to openly call for more engagement with the AfD."

DRESDEN, GERMANY – Seven members of Antifa Ost on trial for targeting far right

Agence France Presse reports the trial of seven members of the far-left Antifa Ost accused of targeting far-right extremists with hammers began in Dresden Tuesday.
The US designated Antifa Ost a terror group earlier this month. The seven earned the nickname Hammer Gang for their targeted attacks in Germany and Hungary between 2018 and 2023. One restaurant in Thuringia that was a meeting place for right wing extremists was attacked twice by the seven.
Two of the suspects, identified as Johann G. and Paul M., according to strict Germany privacy law, attacked and injured several in Budapest in 2023 during an annual event that attracts right-wing extremists from across Europe known as the "day of honor". Johann G. is believed to be a high-ranking member of Antifa Ost who is "responsible for planning attacks and recruiting accomplices." Paul M. is accused of organizing combat training and stockpiling hammers, pepper spray, disguises and cell phones for the group.

BERLIN, GERMANY – Germany will treat date rape drug as weapon in prosecutions

Reuters reports Germany's Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt announced last Friday plans to reclassify date rape drugs as weapons in prosecutions, which he described "as a widespread tool in crimes".
In 2024, nearly 54,000 women and girls were victims of sex crimes in the country, a nearly 21% increase on 2023. Nearly 36% of those crimes were rape or sexual assault. Last year, police also registered "a record high" of almost 266,000 victims of domestic violence, which primarily affects women – a 3.8% increase on 2023.
Germany's federal criminal police chief Holger Münch noted the high number of unreported cases of sexual violence.

PARIS, FRANCE – Macron presents military service plan that 'stops short of conscription'

Politico reports French President Emmanuel Macron presented a new plan for voluntary military service that "stops short of conscription" Thursday while visiting the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade in Varces.
In polarized France, the primary achievement appears to be that "most political parties are likely to go along with the plan", which "is designed to funnel trained personnel into the active armed forces or the reserves." The Financial Times reports, "An initial cohort of 3,000 volunteers, mostly aged 18 and 19, will rise to 10,000 in 2030 and 50,000 in 2035 under the plans." In advance of the announcement, Politico reports the aim is to create a force of 105,000 reservists by 2035, or "a ratio of one reservist for every two active duty soldiers". Last year, France had 44,000 reserve forces.
As of yet, there is no talk of reinstating conscription which late French President Jacques Chirac ended in 1997. The military has also expressed its concerns about the population decline effecting recruitment numbers.

PARIS, FRANCE – France arrests four members of pro-Russian SOS Donbas fake aid group

The AP reports Wednesday French authorities arrested four people involved in the pro-Russian SOS Donbas fake humanitarian NGO, including a Russian-French dual national Anna Novikova who is said to be the group's founder, along with a second Russian national and two French nationals.
SOS Donbas appears to be a government organized non-governmental organization or GONGO, established in France in 2022 to allegedly deliver aid to the residents of occupied parts of Ukraine "who have been bombarded by the Ukrainian army with NATO weapons." Novikova has been in the "crosshairs" of France's internal security service "for months" and allegedly "approached executives from various French companies in order to obtain information related to French economic interests," a statement from the prosecutor's office said. She was also in contact with Vyacheslav P. who was arrested alongside her for allegedly attaching posters to the Arc de Triomphe in September featuring a Russian soldier with the message, "say thank you to the victorious soviet soldier."
Novikova and one of the two French nationals, Vincent Perfetti, "face preliminary charges of criminal conspiracy, intelligence contacts with a foreign power and gathering information for a foreign power". They remain in prison and face up to ten years in prison plus significant fines. A second French national, Bernard F. also faces "Preliminary charges of criminal conspiracy and intelligence contacts with a foreign power". While he is not in detention, he is not allowed to leave France and must check in with authorities weekly. Vyacheslav P. "faces prelininary charges of criminal conspiracy and property damage to serve a foreign power."

ROME, ITALY – Italy changes criminal code to classify misogynist murders as femicide

The New York Times reports Italy's lower house of parliament voted to ratify a law reclassifying "murders of women killed for misogynistic reasons" as femicide Tuesday, with broad support of "lawnakers from across the political spectrum".
While the change is "largely symbolic," it will help "to quantify and improve awareness" of femicide.
Interior Ministry figures reveal that of the 73 women murdered in Italy in the first nine months of 2025, "more than half were killed by a former or current partner".

BOLOGNA, ITALY – Pro-Palestine protest outside Tel Aviv basketball game leads to clashes

The Times of Israel reports police clashed with 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters outside a EuroLeague basketball game between Virtus Bologna and Maccabi Tel Aviv last Friday.
Demonstrators gathered at the Piazza Maggiore "and marched in the direction of the PalaDozza arena" to chants of "Zionists out of Bologna" before tossing stones, setting fire to trash cans and shooting fire works at police who resopnded with smoke bombs and water cannons, which quelled things "within minutes." Normal scenes in Europe in 2025.
Inside the stadium, at least one Palestinian flag was unfurled, though there were no reports of fan violence.

And finally…

CROWDY BAY, AUSTRALIA – Swiss woman dies in shark attack

Swissinfo reports a Swiss woman was killed Thursday in a shark attack in Crowdy Bay, Australia, some 350 km (217 miles) north of Sydney off the country's east coast.
The shark also critically injured her partner who remains in the hospital. The couple, both in their twenties, were tourists.
Crowdy Bay is a rather remote area that is popular with locals and tourists for its "scenic beauty."

Stay safe and beware Russians, peaceniks and sharks – and telling the difference!

Did you find this useful? If so, please consider making a one-time contribution, or becoming a subscriber.

If the Alpine Security Monitor was forwarded to you and you wish to subscribe, you can do so here.

Sign up for Alpine Security Monitor