The war in Ukraine makes Switzerland rethink its historical neutrality in armed conflicts

How does a European country stay neutral when war is raging in Europe?

Swiss It did this during the first and second world wars, but now, seeing Russia’s attack on the Ukraine, many Swiss are rethinking their position.

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It is a long-established diplomatic stance: Switzerland was granted “eternal neutrality” at the Congress of Vienna in 1815.

This pragmatic and geopolitical move received support because the country was seen as a harmless buffer between the great powers of Europe: France on one side, Austria and Prussia on the other.

In addition, the decision preserved the security of Switzerland while their neighbors massacred each other.

During World War II, Swiss neutrality was more pragmatic than heroic.

The country mobilized all its able-bodied men to defend its borders, but it also amassed Nazi-looted gold and, in a shameful move designed to keep Germany at a distance, he turned away thousands of Jewish refugees, a policy for which he finally apologized in 1990.

However, gratitude for having avoided participating in two world wars is, says Markus Haefliger, political correspondent for the Tagesanzeiger newspaper, “almost in our genes. That makes neutrality is so important to the Swiss”.

For decades, neutrality has enjoyed almost universal support among the Swiss: opinion polls have shown approval ratings above 90%.

A sign points Ukrainian refugees in the direction of a food distribution center in Zurich. (REUTERS).

But now, says Haefliger, the Swiss are doing some soul searching.

“They wonder how can we remain neutral in a war like the one in Ukraine. It is very clear who is the good guy and who is the bad guy.”

Democracy versus Autocracy

When Russia invaded its neighbor in February, thousands of Swiss citizens took to the streets condemning the aggression and demanding support for Ukraine.

Thousands also offered their homes to Ukrainian refugees, to whom the Swiss government has offered collective visa-free protection.

For Swiss youth in particular, the idea that his country could stand aside in such a conflict seemed unthinkable.

Operation Libero is a young, non-aligned political movement fighting for closer ties with Europe – Switzerland is not a member of the EU – and a less isolationist strategy.

Its president, Sanija Ameti, believes that this new war has been a wake-up call.

“The Swiss are realizing that they are part of this European family of liberal democracies. This is a struggle between systems: on the one side where we are, and the autocratic and kleptocratic system of the [presidente ruso] Putin”.

That is a view shared by most of the political parties and most of the members of the Swiss government, which despite hesitating at first joined the adoption of all EU sanctions against Russia.

It is a great change compared to just 40 years ago, when, to the permanent embarrassment of many Swiss, the country did not join the sanctions against apartheid South Africa.

The adoption of sanctions was met with headlines around the world, suggesting that Switzerland had abandoned neutrality.

Indeed, when it comes to sanctions, the concept of neutrality has been wearing thin for some time, says Stefanie Walter, a professor of politics at the University of Zurich.

“Switzerland has changed its position a lot in the last two decades,” he notes.

It joined the United Nations sanctions against Iraq in the 1990s, and those against the former Yugoslavia.

“And right now, in addition to those imposed in the Ukraine war, there are 23 other sanctions in force“.

EPA.

Sanctions, but no tanks

But while most Swiss may support sanctions, any military assistance seems in principle out of the question.

Switzerland’s neutrality is legally defined by the 1907 Hague Convention and prohibits the shipment of weapons to countries at waras well as the Swiss national law on arms exports, which was recently renewed.

And so, when Germany asked Switzerland to allow the export of Swiss-made ammunition for tanks that Berlin is sending to kyiv, the Swiss said no.

That decision drew unusual criticism, with the leader of the centrist Die Mitte party tweeting that he thought it would be legitimate to send weapons in defense of European democracy.

Other centrist politicians have suggested narrowing the links between Switzerland and the NATO military allianceincluding the common air defense system and participation in the organization’s military exercises.

Such views would have been unimaginable just a few months ago, and they find fierce resistance in the right-wing partywhere the Swiss People’s Party threatens a referendum to even make sanctions illegal.

And to the left of the parliamentary arch, where social democrats and greens oppose to any military involvement.

Goodbye to neutrality?

But little by little, many Swiss are beginning to contemplate a new identity and a new security strategy for their country.

A recent opinion poll showed that while two-thirds of the Swiss were still opposed to the idea of ​​joining NATO, more than half (52%) were in favor of joining a European defense union.

This plan, known in Brussels as Pesco (permanent structured military cooperation), would involve the countries’ commitment to a common security and defense policy.

The armies would work together and the fighter planes, tanks and other weapons would be purchased together. The ultimate goal: to have a common European army.

The idea that Switzerland, neutral and not a member of the EU, would become involved in something like this would have been unthinkable just a few months agobut the war in Ukraine has clearly changed opinions.

“I’m really sure that Swiss neutrality is headed somewhere different from where we are, but I’m not sure what the new position will be,” says Markus Haefliger, political correspondent, Tagesanzeiger newspaper.

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Sanija Ameti believes that Switzerland has a responsibility to defend European liberal democracy.

“We really need a debate about whether we have to protect our system with weapons,” he explains.

“The consequence would be stop being neutral.

Professor Walter does not go that far, but suggests that “Switzerland has to redefine the concept of neutrality”.

For Markus Haefliger, the war in Ukraine has clarified Switzerland’s position in a new and polarized world.

“Switzerland is so clearly part of the Western world, its values, its economy, its traditions, everything,” he says.

“The big question is, can we be neutral in the traditional sense in this new world order?”

Source: Elcomercio