The seven-member government agreed that Switzerland’s current approach as defined in 1993 remains valid and should not be adapted in the wake of the Ukraine war.
The government said in a report adoptedExternal link on Wednesday that Switzerland’s current neutrality practice “provides sufficient scope to use neutrality as an instrument of Swiss foreign and security policy in the present international context”.
The government had examined Swiss neutrality in the light of the war in Ukraine and in response to a question by the Senate foreign affairs committee. The cabinet discussed the issue in September.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced Switzerland to explain its neutrality. The Alpine nation has parted with past practice and adopted European Union sanctions designed to punish Russia for invading Ukraine.
In response, Russia classified Switzerland as an unfriendly country. In August it rejected a protecting power mandate agreed by Switzerland and Ukraine, saying Switzerland was no longer neutral.
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What does the future hold for Swiss neutrality?
Switzerland is grappling with a key question: should it follow a path of openness or isolationism?
Meanwhile, in Switzerland a domestic debate rages over how to interpret neutrality policy with two opposing camps.
One is conservative, mainly represented by the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, and wants to keep to a strict interpretation of neutrality. It is planning a people’s initiative that would incorporate comprehensive neutrality into the Swiss constitution.
The opposing, more liberal camp, which represents a majority of the government, is pushing for a more active role in international politics.
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Switzerland will remain neutral – until it’s attacked
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Switzerland is neutral. So why has it been cooperating with NATO and the EU on security issues for years?
Switzerland’s current policy of neutrality means it doesn’t take part in armed conflicts and doesn’t support any warring party. As a neutral country it also acts as diplomatic go-between when states partially or fully break off relations.
However, Switzerland no longer sees neutrality as blindly going it alone. This is why for some time it has maintained military partnerships with the Western defence alliance NATO and with its neighbouring countries.
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Debate
Hosted by:
Bruno Kaufmann
What is the future for neutrality?
Neutrality is in the dock. Does it have a future? And how should it be defined?
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
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Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, has been invited to Paris by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Swiss canton coordinates donations for landslide destroyed village
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The Swiss canton of Valais to form committee to coordinate CHF 57.4 million donations for village destroyed by a landslide.
Body of Blatten landslide victim found and identified
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The body of 64-year-old man, who has been missing since part of the Brich glacier collapsed on the Swiss village of Blatten has been found.
Swiss watch industry calls for ‘clear solution’ with US
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Federation of the Watch Industry calls for clear solution to tariff threat and a swift agreement between Bern and Washington.
Swiss youngsters illegally obtain alcohol in a quarter of test purchases
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In a quarter of all alcohol test purchases last year, young people in Switzerland were able to obtain beer, wine or spirits illegally.
Russia says Switzerland cannot represent its interests in Ukraine
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Russia has said Switzerland cannot represent Ukrainian interests in Russia and Moscow’s interests in Ukraine because it is no longer neutral.
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Analyst Daniel Warner looks at whether Russia’s refusal to have Switzerland act as go-between with Ukraine marks the end of an era.
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Switzerland doesn’t take sides in a war. Thanks to its neutrality, it has been able to stay out of conflicts for a long time.
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