Reuters: Switzerland is close to abandoning its neutrality in the issue of arms transfers

Reuters: Switzerland is close to abandoning its neutrality in the issue of arms transfers



Earlier in February, the Swiss Senate Security Committee rejected a parliamentary initiative that should allow the re-export of Swiss weapons to Ukraine, as it violates the principle of equal treatment.

The political leadership of Switzerland is close to abandoning the long-term neutral status in the issue of arms supplies, transmits Reuters.

The foreign policy of Switzerland, according to the constitution of this country, is based on the international legal status of permanent neutrality, which dates back to 1815. The country is not included in any of the military alliances, nor in the European Union. This status also prohibits sending weapons directly or through re-export to countries participating in armed conflicts. Now there is a separate embargo for deliveries to Russia and Ukraine.

Pro-Ukrainian sentiments in Western countries have caused renewed discussions on this issue in the country's power circles. Thus, two parliamentary committees on security have already recommended softening the current rules regarding Ukraine.

“We want to be neutral, but we are part of the Western world...Other countries want to support Ukraine and do something for the security and stability of Europe...They cannot understand why Switzerland says no,” Thierry Burkart told Reuters , leader of the centre-right FDP party, who introduced a proposal to allow the re-export of weapons to countries with "similar democratic values ​​to Switzerland".

At the same time, the Greens believe that this proposal could lead the country on a "slippery slope" to the abolition of any restrictions related to neutrality. A similar position was taken by some of the deputies of the Swiss People's Party, the largest in the lower house.

The Swiss authorities are also under pressure from the mood of voters: according to sociologists, 55% of the support for allowing the re-export of weapons to Kyiv is already supported, although before the start of the NWO, the level of support would have been less than 25%. In addition, problems arose in the country's defense sector, which previously successfully went "hand in hand" with a neutral status. Now some companies have lost contracts and investments. “Our current situation weakens our security policy..., undermines the credibility of our foreign policy and hurts our companies,” said Stefan Brupbacher, director of the SwissMem industry association.

At the beginning of August 2022, the spokeswoman for the largest party in the Swiss parliament, UDC, Andrea Somer, said that the sanctions adopted by Switzerland against Russia violate the neutral status of Switzerland itself, which is contrary to the country's constitution.



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