US circumvents Swiss blockade on Patriot money by diverting funds from F-35s

This is possible because in the US, agreements to supply arms to foreign countries always go through the US government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. Within this programme, the US maintains a fund for all Swiss arms purchases.

Whether it is the F-35 or the Patriot, all Swiss payments flow into this fund. If a project does not have the necessary funds, the US is authorised to access the funds intended for other projects. This is exactly what the US authorities are doing now: the funds intended for the F-35 programme are being used to finance the Patriot system.

The diversion of funds put pressure on the Swiss Defence Ministry and resulted in budget shortfalls for the jet F-35. At the end of 2025, the ministry had to transfer several tens of millions of francs in advance to the US to bridge the gap. These advance payments exacerbated the pre-existing financial problems of the ministry, which was already struggling to finance approved arms purchases.

Despite the payment freeze, the US is expected to continue redirecting funds for the F-35 to the Patriot programme this year.

From the Swiss parliament there was a lot of criticism. 'It is frustrating when we impose a payment freeze and money is simply diverted,' said Werner Salzmann, senator and security expert from the right-wing Swiss People's Party.

Salzmann said that trust in Washington had declined: 'FMS contracts are generating more and more problems of interpretation. We have to think carefully if we want to continue signing such agreements'. Priska Seiler Graf, a Social Democrat MP, called for the cancellation of the Patriot purchase.