Switzerland to Abandon Neutrality for the First Time in Over 500 Years, Will Closely Collaborate with EU and NATO

Russia's war in Ukraine poses a risk to the whole of Europe and is prompting neutral Switzerland to reconsider its defence posture.

In a high-profile report released recently, a group of experts recommends that the Swiss government, which has been neutral since 1515, should work on ‘joint defence capabilities’ with the EU and NATO.

‘After Russia's attack on Ukraine, neutrality has once again become a subject of political debate both at home and abroad. The pressure on Switzerland to clarify its position is growing,’ the report says, calling for a “review” of its neutrality policy.

One of the many factors is how Switzerland's neutrality has affected arms sales, another is how best to defend a country surrounded by two blocs to which it does not belong.

This is yet another indication of how Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in 2022 is changing the security landscape of Europe. This unprovoked attack prompted Sweden and Finland to abandon their neutrality and join NATO.

The report sparked controversy even before it was released, as opposition parties, including the far right, accused Swiss Defence and Security Minister Viola Amherd of appointing mostly pro-NATO and pro-EU experts to the committee.

‘The ban on re-exports should be lifted,’ the report calls for. Earlier, Switzerland blocked the supply of arms and ammunition to Ukraine from a number of European countries. It took months of pressure for Switzerland to agree to send surplus Leopard tanks to Germany to replace those sent to Ukraine. Its refusal to allow Swiss-made ammunition from German warehouses to be shipped to Ukraine for use in the donated Gepard anti-aircraft systems helped German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall increase its ammunition production in Germany.

Experts also want to strengthen the Swiss arms industry by strengthening its offset policy and gaining access to EU and NATO arms programmes.

The experts who prepared the report, diplomats and high-ranking officials, including the former chief of the Swiss army and Wolfgang Ischinger, former director of the Munich Security Conference, presented their findings to Swiss Minister of Defence and Security Viola Amherd. She is also the President of the Confederation for 2024. 

These recommendations will inform the Swiss security strategy until 2025.