![\\"logo\\"](\\"/img/logo-dpa-factchecking.svg\\"/) *About ![\\"IFCN](\\"/img/ifcn-certificate.png\\"/) ![\\"EFCSN](\\"/img/efcsn- certificate.png\\"/) ## Context is missing # World leaders are always protected 17.1.2023, 17:43 (CET), last updated: 17.1.2023, 17:57 (CET) Five thousand soldiers to protect a "talking club"? Then there has to be something mysterious is happening in Davos, people argue on Facebook. But they are are there that many? And if so, is that so strange? World leaders and business magnates meet this week in Switzerland Davos, where the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) takes place. Switzerland would deploy no fewer than five thousand soldiers to the secure meeting. This is claimed in several posts (here, here) on Facebook. However, it is known how many soldiers there will be deployed? ## Judgement The statement lacks context and is therefore misleading. It is not known how much soldiers are deployed around the WEF meeting. The Swiss Parliament has decided that a maximum of five thousand soldiers may be available are made for the meeting. That doesn't mean there are five thousand soldiers have been deployed, or whether they all secure the WEF meeting. ## Facts In Davos, high in the Alps in eastern Switzerland, the annual meeting of the WEF takes place. World leaders, scientists, business magnates and celebrities discuss the most important political and economic issues of the moment. This year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, special climate envoy of US President John Kerry and the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be present. Take on behalf of the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte and ministers Kaag, Hoekstra, Ollongren, Van Gennip and Schreinemacher part. Considering the influence that many of the conference participants actually have have, conspiracy theories about their intentions are springing up like mushrooms ground. Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) regularly debunks fabrications (here, here, here) about the WEF and its visitors. Maximum number of soldiers The claim that Switzerland is deploying five thousand soldiers to the WEF conference to secure, Facebook users take from this article of the website Hal Turner and this article from Frontnieuws. Turner is an American, who are website is regularly used to spread fabricated claims, it writes Newsweek. Frontnieuws is also known for spreading disinformation, including about the WEF. The number five thousand is not completely out of the blue. The Swiss Parliament decided in 2021 that the Swiss army in the years 2022-2024 may be used to develop the Canton of Graubünden, where Davos is located. support with security measures in connection with the meetings of the WEF. The maximum number of soldiers that may be used for this purpose is five thousand. That does not mean that there will actually be five thousand soldiers this year are present. When asked by dpa about the exact number, one responded spokesperson for the Swiss army: "How many there will actually be in 2023 we can only say after the aid mission has ended. were average approximately 4,000 members of the armed forces in the past ten years involved.\" This is also mentioned in the articles by Turner and Frontnieuws it concerns a "ceiling" or a maximum number of soldiers. That nuance is becoming popular however, the Facebook posts are not mentioned. Not an impenetrable fortress Even if a total of five thousand soldiers are actually deployed, that is aren't these all there to make the WEF a closed fortress, like suggested on Facebook. According to the job description of the Swiss army soldiers protect "objects, people and airspace" but they will also assist with logistical efforts and coordination of medical services. According to this website for tourists, Davos is during the meetings of the WEF is simply accessible to everyone, in some areas in the immediate vicinity from the convention center. By the way, it is a completely normal thing that an event involves a lot world leaders are present, it is secured. Also the Dutch army continuously protects politicians, diplomats and important objects. Note: In the third paragraph under the subheading \"Maximum number of soldiers\". the response from the Swiss army spokesperson added. (State of play: 17/01/2023) ## Left Facebook post I (archived) Facebook post II (archived) WEF (archived) Deutsche Welle (archived) Dutch delegation (archived) Fact check I dpa Fact check II dpa Fact check III dpa Fact check IV dpa Hal Turner article (archived) Front news article (archived) Fact check Newsweek (archived) Parliament decision (archived) (pdf archived) Swiss Armed Forces (archived) Davos Klosters (archived) Defense Netherlands (archived) ### About dpa fact checks This fact check was written in the context of the Third Party Fact Checking program from Facebook/Meta. More information about this initiative can be found here. Explanation from Facebook/Meta about dealing with accounts that contain incorrect information distribution can be found here. You can send substantive comments or comments to factcheck- netherlands@dpa.com with a link to the relevant Facebook post. Please to use the correct templates for this. 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Switzerland deploys 5000 soldiers to secure the WEF's annual meeting