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How should a neutral country like Switzerland handle arms exports to conflict zones?

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Reporter specialised in Swiss foreign affairs, with a side hustle as a sub-editor in the English Department. Previously my focus was on disinformation and fact-checks, which I still produce occasionally.

Swiss law prohibits the selling of domestically made arms to countries at war. But this could soon change: parliament is debating amendments to the War Materiel Act.

The move comes after Switzerland was criticised for preventing Germany and others from re-exporting Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine, a decision that prompted Europeans to cut off Swiss arms manufacturers.

A parliamentary committee recently voted in favour of allowing, under certain conditions, the export and re-export of weapons to countries involved in conflict. The Senate is set to vote on the issue this winter.

What do you think are the pros and cons of neutral Switzerland allowing its weapons to enter conflict zones? And how would this change your perception of Swiss neutrality?

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skiramia
skiramia

neutrality is when everyone is welcome or unwelcome equally.

thewanderingdev
thewanderingdev

Re-export is, IMO a non issue. What a 3rd party does after the munitions are purchased is non of our business. __However, direct exports reflect on our Neutrality and should be restricted to our close defense partners.

kkckkc
kkckkc

Neutrality means you have no position on a conflict, neither for or against any party to that conflict. ____You do not apply 3r party sanctions and you do not stop your customers sending weapons to Ukraine. It cuts both ways. ____If we are neutral, such questions are not even asked. ____To maintain neutrality is a test to maintain Swiss sovereignty and that is even more important.

Geraldine Wong
Geraldine Wong SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@kkckkc

The neutrality initiative calls on Switzerland to go in the direction you suggest here, including refraining from applying sanctions. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/neutrality/how-the-neutrality-initiative-could-affect-swiss-policy/90344837

RamonMaynou
RamonMaynou
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.

Wars are big business. And that makes arms manufacturers happy... People's lives don't matter... It's that simple.__Ten commandments for the defence of a neutral and peaceful country:__1.- The country will maintain a neutral position in external conflicts. __2.- The country will never send or deploy its army outside its territory.__3.- The country will never allow a foreign country to establish a military base on its territory.__4.- The country will never purchase weapons from foreign countries.__5.- The country will only manufacture weapons that allow it to defend itself against possible aggression from other countries.6. The country shall never sell weapons to foreign countries. 7. The country shall abolish torture and the death penalty in all circumstances. 8. The country shall promote peace by eliminating political history and confessional religion from education. 9. The country shall prohibit the financing of producers of war material. __10.- In the event of a declaration of war, soldiers may refuse to obey orders and use weapons outside their country.__https://polideas.eu/defensa-europea/

Las guerras son un gran negocio. Y es la felicidad de los fabricantes de armas… La vida de la personas no importan… Así de simple.__Decálogo de defensa de un país neutral y pacífico:__1.- El país mantendrá una posición neutral ante los conflictos exteriores. __2.- El país nunca enviará ni dispondrá de ejercito fuera del territorio del país.__3.- El país nunca admitirá la instalación de una base militar de un país extranjero.__4.- El país nunca podrá comprar armas de países extranjeros.__5.- El país sólo fabricarán armas que permitan defenderse de las posibles agresiones de otros países.__6.- El país nunca podrá vender armas a países extranjeros.__7.- El país abolirá la tortura y la pena de muerte en toda circunstancia.__8.- El país fomentará la paz, eliminando la historia politica y la religión confesional en la educación.__9.- El país prohibirá la financiación de los productores de material de guerra. __10.- En una declaración de guerra los soldados podrán negarse a obedecer ordenes y usar las armas fuera de su país.__https://polideas.eu/defensa-europea/

Geraldine Wong
Geraldine Wong SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@RamonMaynou

Thank-you for sharing these thoughts. Interestingly, the Swiss appear to be very flexible, like their government, in how they interpret the country's neutrality. Over half of respondents to a new survey say they are in favour of sending weapons to a country like Ukraine, if it's for the purpose of self-defence against an attack. https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/foreign-affairs/swiss-support-neutrality-alongside-weapons-exports/90811756

Lpbibliotecaria
Lpbibliotecaria
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.
@Geraldine Wong

Hello, I think it is utterly hypocritical to maintain neutrality while at the same time allowing arms to be sent to countries whether or not they are in conflict: the sale of arms only serves to promote wars and the arms industry. Of course, it is a big business that ultimately 'benefits' all Swiss people. I think it is an abhorrent industry that should be abolished (unfortunately, I know that will never happen). We are participating in the destruction and genocide in other countries, which is shameful and cannot be justified in any way.

Hola, me parece una absoluta hipocresía sostener la neutralidad y al mismo tiempo consentir al envío de armas a países estén o no en conflicto: la venta de armas solo sirve para la promoción de guerras y de la industria armamentista. Claro, es un gran negocio que en definitiva „ nos beneficia“ a todxs lxs suizos. Me parece una industria aberrante que debería ser suprimida( ya se lamentablemente , que nunca lo será.__Estamos participando de la destrucción y genocidio en otros países, es vergonzoso y no se justifica de ninguna manera.

RÁ
RÁ
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

The existence of companies in Switzerland that sell weapons or any other technology intended or repurposed for the destruction of human beings to any other country automatically invalidates the principle of neutrality as conceived by Parliament: "neither side" – neither one nor the other. A power is neutral when, in a war, it does not take sides. Switzerland's neutrality is freely chosen, permanent and armed.https://www.parlament.ch/centers/documents/fr/armee-21-neutralitaet-f.pdf It can easily be deduced that the production of weapons is intended solely for the defence of Switzerland. ____As this could cause economic problems for companies that produce or sell weapons in Switzerland, which are seeing their production costs skyrocket due to the small scale of production required to ensure the defence of the territory, they could receive a "Transition Plan" to start producing, for example, basic medical materials and equipment, including the long list of missing medicines, and also for cybersecurity. All these products can be used internally or sold externally; in the event of war, they are always necessary for peace.

L'existence d'entreprises en Suisse qui vendent des armes ou n'importe quel autre tecnologie destinée ou re-appropriée à la destruction des êtres humains à n'importe quel autre pays caduque, automatiquement, le principe de Neutralité, tel comme conçu par le Parlement: - « ne uter » – ni l’un ni l’autre. Une puissance est neutre__lorsque, dans une guerre, elle ne prend pas parti. La neutralité de la Suisse est__librement choisie, permanente et armée.__https://www.parlament.ch/centers/documents/fr/armee-21-neutralitaet-f.pdf ____Il se déduit facilement que la production des armes est uniquement destinée à la défense de la Suisse. ____Comme ça peut générer un problème économique pour ces entreprises productrices où marchant d'armes en Suisse, qui voient leurs coûts de production exploser due à la petite production nécessaire pour assurer la défense du territoire, pourraient recevoir un "Plan de Transition" pour se mettre à la production, par exemple, de matériaux et équipment médicaux básiques, y compris la longue liste de médicaments manquantes; et encore pour la cybersécurité. Tous ces produits peuvent être utilisés à l'interne ou vendus à l'externe; en cas de guerre et toujours nécessaires pour la paix.

RamonMaynou
RamonMaynou
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.
@RÁ

Wars are big business. And that makes arms manufacturers very happy... People's lives don't matter... It's that simple.__https://polideas.eu/defensa-europea/

Las guerras son un gran negocio. Y es la felicidad de los fabricantes de armas… La vida de la personas no importan… Así de simple.__https://polideas.eu/defensa-europea/

TOBIAS41
TOBIAS41
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

Switzerland is capable of designing cutting-edge (future) weapons.

La Suisse est capable de concevoir des armes de technologies de pointe (du futur).__

www.molinaco.com
www.molinaco.com
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.

In Panama there have been sporadic cases of deposits of funds from internationally prominent individuals, which has generated significant challenges in terms of banking supervision, regulatory compliance and reputational risk.__An emblematic case was the one in which a Lithuanian citizen acquired Banco Trasatlántico, S.A. Subsequently, this individual was arrested by the London authorities for alleged financial crimes. As a direct consequence of these events, the bank was subject to a merger process and was later included in the so-called Clinton List (OFAC), which caused severe operational restrictions and affected the financial system.__These types of situations demonstrate the importance of applying strict controls of enhanced due diligence, both in the acquisition of banking entities and in merger and corporate reorganisation processes. In the Panamanian context, bank mergers should not only be evaluated from a financial perspective, but also from the angle of regulatory compliance, transparency of the origin of funds and international reputational risk, which are key elements to preserve the stability and credibility of the Panamanian banking centre.

En Panamá han existido casos esporádicos de depósitos de fondos provenientes de personajes de relevancia internacional, lo que ha generado importantes retos en materia de supervisión bancaria, cumplimiento normativo y riesgo reputacional.__Un caso emblemático fue aquel en el que un ciudadano lituano adquirió el Banco Trasatlántico, S.A. Posteriormente, dicho individuo fue detenido por las autoridades londinenses por presuntos delitos financieros. Como consecuencia directa de estos hechos, la entidad bancaria fue objeto de un proceso de fusión y, más adelante, terminó siendo incluida en la denominada Lista Clinton (OFAC), lo que provocó severas restricciones operativas y afectaciones al sistema financiero.__Este tipo de situaciones evidencian la importancia de aplicar controles estrictos de debida diligencia reforzada, tanto en la adquisición de entidades bancarias como en los procesos de fusión y reorganización corporativa. En el contexto panameño, las fusiones bancarias no solo deben evaluarse desde una perspectiva financiera, sino también desde el ángulo del cumplimiento regulatorio, la transparencia del origen de los fondos y el riesgo reputacional internacional, elementos clave para preservar la estabilidad y credibilidad del centro bancario panameño.

Texswiss
Texswiss

What’s the point of having an arms industry if the weapons can’t be used? That said, it’s a sad commentary on human evolution where nations are forced to spend limited resources on tools of death when humanity would be much better served improving the lives of ordinary people.

RamonMaynou
RamonMaynou
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.
@Texswiss

There is a universal enemy: natural disasters, fires, floods, earthquakes, etc. The arms industry can be employed to create 'weapons' and means to combat this.

Hay un enemigo universal: Los desastres naturales, incendios, inundaciones, terremotos, etc. En crear «armas» y medios para esto puede emplearse la industria armamentística.

Texswiss
Texswiss
@RamonMaynou

And/or the funds could be used for education, clean energy, infrastructure, etc, etc. It unfortunate that we have leaders of some of the largest nations who sole goal is to amass wealth and power.

Sera wilkens
Sera wilkens
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

How can we come to live in this country

Comment peut-on venir vivre dans ce pays

Lpbibliotecaria
Lpbibliotecaria
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.
@Sera wilkens

Sometimes it is by choice, sometimes it is forced exile: for example, on dodis.ch there is a lot of information about how Switzerland supported and promoted dictatorships in Latin America and then did big business with them (financial and arms sales) that harmed and conditioned the subsequent democratic governments.

A veces es por elección, a veces es exilio forzado:por ejemplo en dodis.ch se encuentra mucha info de como Suiza apoyó y promovió dictaduras en Latinoamérica para luego hacer grandes negocios con estas ( financieros y de ventas de armas) que perjudicaron y condicionaron a los consiguientes gobiernos democráticos.

Ulmer
Ulmer
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

That would be asking too much of Switzerland.__If the Vatican had an arms industry, it would supply weapons in the same way ...

Das wär zuviel verlangt von der Schweiz.__Hätte der Vatikan eine Waffenindustrie, würde er genauso Waffen liefern ...

blob
blob
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

As a staunch pacifist, I am in favour of a total ban on the export of weapons to war zones. Yes, the current practice actually shows that the relevant laws need to be tightened up so that unscrupulous money-making cannot take place via third countries.____Neutrality has its price and is only c o s e q u e n t credible.____In the armed conflicts, thousands and thousands of people are highly traumatised - the scars remain even after the eventual processing; wounded people...

Als überzeugte Pazifistin stehe ich ein für das totale Verbot der Ausfuhr von Waffen in Kriegsgebiete. Ja, eigentlich zeigt sich durch die aktuelle Praxis, dass die entsprechenden Gesetze verschärft gehören, damit die skrupellose Geldmacherei nicht über Drittländer vonstatten gehen kann.____Neutralität hat ihren Preis und ist ausschliesslich k o s e q u e n t glaubhaft.____In den kriegerischen Auseinandersetzungen werden Abertausende von Menschen hochgradig traumatisiert - die Narben bleiben auch nach der allfälligen Aufarbeitung zurück; versehrte Menschen eben...

swisstester123@gmail.com
swisstester123@gmail.com

It is purely a business which needs to be closely managed. Switzerland does not manufacture weapons of mass destruction and so small arms or bombs or projectiles are surely okay to be manufactured and sold. Swiss quality is not cheap, so I would not worry that suddenly countries start to buy Swiss bullets and swiss small arms.

gbmwtr@bluewin.ch
gbmwtr@bluewin.ch
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

Well. Maintain neutrality... until it comes to the money...

Na ja. Neutralität bewahren... bis es ums Geld geht...

Geraldine Wong
Geraldine Wong SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@gbmwtr@bluewin.ch

Europe is going on a bit of a defence spending spree at the moment and some Swiss arms manufacturers are worried they're not getting a piece of that pie: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerlands-neutrality-is-holding-back-its-defense-industry/89238160

ProperD
ProperD

I don't see why "neutral" and "arms exports to conflict zones" are in the same sentence. I mean...what's so neutral about that

Geraldine Wong
Geraldine Wong SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@ProperD

Thanks for your comment, ProperD. Indeed, some people argue that allowing exports and re-exports of Swiss-made arms would be a breach of Switzerland's long-standing military neutrality ...

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR