Switzerland signs Sky Shield declaration of intent

The Swiss Defence Minister Viola Amherd signed a declaration of intent on Friday to join the European Sky Shield air defence umbrella.

Viola Amherd is set to meet her counterparts from Austria and Germany in Bern. Some 17 European countries have so far signed up to the Sky Shield project. Critics say Swiss participation in the scheme is incompatible with the country’s long-standing tradition of neutrality.

European Sky Shield is a common air defence scheme set up by Germany in 2022 to boost European air defence, an issue which has come into sharper focus since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It aims to cut costs for countries by coordinating their procurement of air and missile defence systems such as the Patriot missile system. It also aims to enable cooperation in training, maintenance and logistics.

Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, neutral Switzerland has come under increasing pressure from its European neighbours to support Ukraine militarily by allowing the re-export of Swiss-made armaments.

Last week Bern rejected a request by Swiss defence firm RUAG to sell 96 Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks for use in Ukraine. It has also previously vetoed requests from Denmark and Germany which had wanted to send Swiss-made armoured vehicles and ammunition to help Ukraine.

The Sky Shield move has provoked concerns from Switzerland’s neutrality lobby.

“This does not fit with a strictly neutral Switzerland,” said Werner Gartenmann of the lobby group Pro Schweiz. He said he was concerned the move would make Switzerland militarily dependent on foreign countries and NATO and would turn the country into a target.