How to Buy Jets When Negotiating with a Tank: The F-35 Dilemma
Switzerland is facing a sharp increase in the cost of its F-35 jet purchase—raising questions about U.S. pricing tactics, transatlantic power dynamics, and Switzerland’s negotiation strategy. Why is the price going up? What can Switzerland do when negotiating with a “tank-style” counterpart? And why is this story surfacing now, just months after a new defense minister took office? This opinion piece offers a principled take on a complex negotiation—grounded in facts, diplomacy, and strategic thinking.