Swiss Opposition to F-35 Purchase Hardens as 65% of Voters Oppose Deal, Poll Shows

Nearly two-thirds of Swiss voters want to cancel the country's 6 billion franc ($7.2 billion) purchase of 36 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, according to a Tamedia/20 Minuten poll published October 2, 2026. Only 28% support proceeding with the deal. Opposition has intensified amid trade tensions with the Trump administration and a parliamentary report concluding that a fixed-price guarantee for the aircraft never existed. Defense Minister Martin Pfister has said Switzerland may have to buy fewer jets to stay within the voter-approved budget. A campaign committee is collecting signatures to trigger a plebiscite on halting outstanding payments, though any vote would likely not occur before 2028. First deliveries are expected as soon as 2027. Switzerland, not a NATO member, aims to raise defense spending to 1% of GDP by 2030. A referendum on relaxing neutrality rules for weapons exports is scheduled for November.