Reuters: Switzerland is close to renouncing its neutral status in the issue of arms supplies to Kiev The country is close to renouncing its neutral status in the issue of arms supplies to Kiev due to the pressure exerted on it, the agency reports
Switzerland is close to abandoning neutrality in the issue of arms supplies to Ukraine because of the pressure exerted on it, Reuters reports.
“We want to be neutral, but we are part of the Western world,” said the leader of the center-right Free Democratic Party of the country, Thierry Burkart, who suggested that the government allow the re-export of weapons to countries with the same democratic values as in Switzerland. At the end of January, the Security policy committee of the National Council (lower house of Parliament) of the country approved an initiative concerning the re-export of Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine.
Switzerland has been considered a neutral country since 1815, this status was fixed in 1907. It cannot directly or indirectly send weapons to combatants. In addition, there is a separate embargo on sending weapons to Ukraine and Russia.
“We should not have the right of veto to prevent others from helping Ukraine. If we do this, we will support Russia, and this is not a neutral position,” Burkart pointed out. The results of a poll conducted by Sotomo showed that 55% of citizens are also in favor of allowing the re-export of weapons to Ukraine.
Switzerland came under pressure from foreign countries after it rejected a request from Germany and Denmark. So, Copenhagen was going to transfer 20 Swiss infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) Piranha III to Ukraine, and Berlin was going to send shells for the Marder IFVs.
The deputy from the Green Party, Marionna Schlatter, in turn, considers the permission to supply weapons to Ukraine a “slippery slope”.
Read on RBC Pro Budgets are melting, specialists are leaving: 5 scenarios-2023 for the IT sector of Russia Metavers from MTS, esports without women: the main events in video games “It’s a lousy business”. Why Warren Buffett spared money for new machines “Revenge” of Chinese tourists: how the return of travel will support the industry
Meanwhile, opinions in the Swiss People’s Party (SVP, the largest in the lower house and defender of neutrality) are now divided. According to SVP MP David Zuberbuler, allowing weapons to be sent to a country involved in an armed conflict “destroys the foundation of peace and prosperity” of Switzerland. At the same time, his fellow party member, Werner Salzmann, does not agree with this and is concerned about the damage to the Swiss defense industry, which also supports the revision of the law on re-export.
In early February, the Swiss Federal Council decided to review relations with Russia as part of a new foreign policy strategy. According to Bern, the conflict in Ukraine has “penetrated deeply” into the country’s foreign policy and plunged Europe into a “new era” of instability.
Authors Tags Subscribe to Telegram RBC Stay up to date with the latest news even in lockdown conditions