Switzerland continues to reject demands from European countries to allow them to re-export Swiss-made war materiel to Ukraine.
The New York Times accused Switzerland of “months of hand-wringing” to defend its neutral status as the war in Europe rages on.
“Everyone knows this is hurting Switzerland. The entire EU is angry. The Americans are upset. The resentment comes from the Russians too,” the NYT quotes Swiss historian Sacha Zala.
The Financial Times also noted that Berset’s comments will not go down well with other countries.
“Berset’s declaration will confound those who had hoped for the beginnings of a change in Switzerland’s position,” the newspaper noted.
But the situation is not so straightforward in Switzerland where demonstrators gathered in the country’s capital, Bern, at the weekend to demand strict adherence to neutrality.
Switzerland’s largest political party, the Swiss People’s Party, is adamant that Swiss-made weapons should not be sent to war zones.
People’s Party President Marco Chiesa defended Berset’s stance, telling Swiss public broadcaster SRF that neutrality has historically contributed to “security, prosperity and freedom”.
Other political parties, however, are angry at Berset’s comments. “This damages the reputation and positioning of our country,” said Radical Party President Thierry Burkhart.
Other politicians accused Berset of skimming over Russia’s military aggression.
“It is not Switzerland that’s in a war frenzy, but [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is. That’s the main problem,” said Social Democrat Parliamentary President Roger Nordmann.
This content was published on
Nemo brought the Eurovision Song Contest to Switzerland with a victory on Saturday evening in Malmö, Sweden. It is Switzerland's third victory in the history of the music contest.
Switzerland abstains from vote on Palestinian bid for full UN membership
This content was published on
On Friday, Switzerland abstained from the vote at the General Assembly on granting the Palestinians new rights at the United Nations (UN).
Protein in abdominal fat could help shape obesity treatment
This content was published on
The study analysed fat cells from different locations in the body, and found that those in the abdomen have unique properties.
North African asylum claims fall after rapid Swiss processing
This content was published on
The accelerated procedure, now out of its test phase, has resulted in a significant drop in applications from North African countries.
This content was published on
The artist's song "The Code" focuses on their journey as a nonbinary individual. It is one of the favourites to win this year's contest.
Re-export ban ‘beginning of end’ for Swiss defence firms
This content was published on
Germany’s decision to restart the production of ammunition for Gepard tanks in its own country is having a major impact on the Swiss arms industry.
Switzerland’s war materiel exports reach record level
This content was published on
Swiss companies exported tanks, weapons, and other war materiel worth CHF955 million ($1.02 billion) to 60 countries in 2022.
Wanted: politically convenient definition of ‘neutrality’
This content was published on
Switzerland is in search of a new interpretation of its neutrality. An international comparison shows there are plenty of variations.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.