📍 Switzerland 🇨🇭

Switzerland’s Ministry of Defense has recommended a major shift away from the nation’s 500-year policy of neutrality. This recommendation comes amid significant changes in the European security landscape following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. A report by a group of experts suggests that Switzerland should develop a “common defense capability” with the European Union (EU) and NATO to enhance its defense strategy and align more closely with Western security frameworks.

The report outlines several reasons for reconsidering neutrality, including the impact on arms sales and national defense capabilities. Switzerland’s arms exports fell by 27% in 2023, reaching less than 700 million Swiss francs, partly due to the current policy that prohibits the sale of weapons to countries engaged in conflict. This policy has created tension with countries wishing to send Swiss-manufactured arms to Ukraine. The experts propose lifting the re-export ban on weapons to address this issue and allow Swiss arms to be used in broader European defense contexts.

Key recommendations from the report include increasing military spending to 1% of GDP by 2030, from the current 0.76%, and enhancing the Swiss arms industry through offset policies and closer cooperation with EU and NATO armament programs. It also suggests deepening ties with NATO and the EU on joint training, missile defense, and exercises. Moreover, the report recommends adopting a “global defense” strategy that prepares the entire society—not just the military—for potential conflicts, thereby broadening the scope of national defense beyond traditional military engagements.

These proposals have sparked significant debate within Switzerland, especially among pacifist groups and nationalist factions, who oppose closer ties with NATO and the EU. The Swiss government plans to incorporate these recommendations into a new security policy strategy by 2025, signaling a potential historic shift in Swiss foreign and defense policy.

Switzerland #Neutrality #DefensePolicy #EU #NATO

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