The choice of words leaves no room for doubt. By denouncing on March 12 a “war frenzy” based on “a short-term vision”, in an interview with the NZZ am Sonntag, the Swiss president Alain Berset (socialist) could not be clearer as to his position vis-à-vis a transfer of arms to Ukraine. And in the process attracted criticism even in his own camp: “The idea that Switzerland is withdrawing from the world is no longer tenable, at least since February 24, 2022”, retorted to him the next day. , in the same newspaper, the co-president of the Socialist Party Cédric Wermuth.
Switzerland’s historical neutrality fuels debate, both internally and internationally. If Bern adopted, in March, the economic sanctions against Russia decided by the European Union – without being a member of it –, the Swiss government categorically refuses to take the step of military support. Despite repeated requests to authorize the re-export of Swiss arms and ammunition to Ukraine, several European countries, such as Germany, Denmark and Spain, have been refused.
“Switzerland’s neutrality is a very historically rooted concept, which dates back to the Congress of Vienna and the Treaty of Paris of 1815. At the time, its principle had been supported by all the European powers, recounts Christian Bühlmann, political researcher of Defense and Chief of Staff of the Center for Security Policy in Geneva. But this is now weighing on its relations with its European neighbours, pushing the Swiss Confederation to block all military cooperation with them.”
Putting under pressure
In mid-February, German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck set foot in the dish. “Some countries have ammunition, but are reluctant for historical reasons to deliver it to Ukraine,” he said in an interview with Die Zeit. We are in discussion with Switzerland, and I must say it clearly: I do not understand why Switzerland does not make ammunition for the Gepards available.”
Since July, Berlin has supplied 34 of these anti-aircraft armored vehicles to kyiv. But, at the same time, there is a critical lack of ammunition (manufactured by the Swiss group Oerlikon) for their twin 35mm cannons. In order to remedy this, the German arms giant Rheinmetall was forced to announce in December the opening of a new production line in Germany. The first ammunition is expected, according to the manufacturer, for the month of June.
“Bern’s position seems all the more difficult to maintain since other traditionally neutral countries, such as Sweden and Finland, have decided not to be so anymore, points out Yohann Michel, researcher on defense issues at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). This gives the impression that Switzerland benefits from a rather accommodating situation, since it is surrounded by EU and NATO countries and is therefore indirectly protected by them.”
Can the status quo withstand the war in Ukraine? According to a survey by the Sotomo Institute published in February, 55% of Swiss are in favor of third countries being able to deliver Swiss-made weapons. However, several initiatives in this direction brought before Parliament have been rejected. One of them was narrowly passed on March 9 by the lower house but it plans to authorize a re-export of weapons only in the event that the Security Council of the United Nations – where Russia has a right of veto – declares in a resolution that the Russian invasion is contrary to international law!
“The decisions taken by Switzerland could leave traces, judge Yohann Michel. Especially since the pressure comes from states that are anything but going to war.” Before authorizing the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks, Olaf Scholz had himself paid the price for his lukewarmness in his aid to Ukraine. “In Europe, Switzerland has the most restrictive and strict vision of neutrality, underlines Christian Bühlmann.
But in the end, it could end up isolating it.” At the risk of reinforcing this trend, Bern has decided to scrap about sixty Rapier surface-to-air defense systems, revealed on March 12 the NZZ am Sonntag. Systems, which, if they had been returned to the United Kingdom, their country of origin, could then have been reused to protect the Ukrainian skies.