Younger Swiss less likely to support re-export of arms to Ukraine
Switzerland has rejected requests from Germany, Denmark and more recently Spain to re-export Swiss-made war materiel to Ukraine.
Keystone / Gian Ehrenzeller
The younger generation is generally more critical of the Swiss government’s stance on the war than people over 55, a new survey shows.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Sonntagsblick/Keystone-SDA/gw
Italiano
it
Gli svizzeri più giovani sono meno propensi a sostenere la riesportazione di armi in Ucraina
Nearly half (49%) of people aged 18-35 believe Switzerland should be more neutral on the war in Ukraine, reveals a survey by Sotomo publishedExternal link in the Sonntagsblick newspaper. That’s higher than for all age groups combined (41%).
Over a third of young people (35%) also say the country is violating the principle of neutrality by adopting European Union sanctions against Russia. By contrast, just 22% of people over 55 share this opinion. In fact, around half of people in this age group say Switzerland should do more to support Ukraine.
Sotomo’s director, Michael Hermann, said the experience of the Cold War may explain why the older generation see things differently: “The Soviet Union presented an enemy image back then,” he told Sonntagsblick, adding that older people also tend to consume traditional media, the majority of which take a more pro-Ukraine position. Younger people, on the other hand, are more likely to get their news on social media, where they are exposed to a broader of range of views, including pro-Russia ones.
Explaining the ban on re-exporting Swiss ammunition
The divide between generations can also be seen on the issue of re-exporting Swiss-made ammunition to Ukraine: fewer young people (32%) support the idea compared to those over 55 (54%). Switzerland has rejected requests from Germany, Denmark and more recently Spain to re-export Swiss-made war materiel to Ukraine.
More
More
Switzerland rejects Spanish request for arms re-export to Ukraine
This content was published on
Switzerland has rejected Spain’s request for the re-export of Swiss war materiel to Ukraine, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs says.
At the Munich Security Conference this weekend, Defence Minister Viola Amherd had to explain to her European counterparts that Switzerland’s neutrality prevented it from approving any re-export, she told Le Temps newspaper. A proposed amendment to the War Materiel Act that would allow a two-year exemption on the ban on re-exports for Ukraine is currently before parliament.
The Sotomo survey published on Sunday is based on responses given online by close to 16,000 people between February 13-16.
Popular Stories
More
Life & Aging
Zurich: how the world capital of housing shortages is tackling the problem
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
In Switzerland more people are being referred to electrical therapies or psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Are there similar approaches where you live?
Ex-sect member sentenced in Zurich for sexual abuse
This content was published on
Zurich District Court has sentenced a former member of the globally active sect "Children of God" to a partial prison sentence.
SNB chairman does not rule out slowdown in Swiss growth
This content was published on
Martin Schlegel, chairman of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), does not rule out a weakening of the Swiss economy in light of the tariff dispute.
Swiss NGOs abroad to receive 10% less federal funding
This content was published on
In 2025 and 2026, Swiss NGOs will have 10% less federal funding available for international cooperation than in the previous two-year period.
Swiss parties spent less than CHF1 million on February green vote
This content was published on
Swiss political parties spent CHF 700,000 ($840,000) on campaigns in the run-up to the overwhelmingly defeated vote on February 9, according to the Swiss Federal Audit Office.
This content was published on
Swisswool, the largest Swiss wool processor, is not accepting any wool for the first time this spring. For many sheep farmers, the only option is to get rid of the wool.
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.
Foreign press criticises Swiss neutrality in Ukraine war
This content was published on
The international media has been critical of Switzerland’s political neutrality in relation to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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.