Swiss Government Resists Tighter Neutrality Rules

The Swiss government has rejected a strict interpretation of the country’s neutrality that activists are seeking to enshrine in the constitution through an upcoming referendum. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said the proposed changes would only limit Switzerland’s room for maneuver. “Switzerland has been and remains neutral, and will continue to be so”, he said.

Switzerland’s neutral status was internationally recognized in 1815, but its roots date back to 1516. Under the principle, the country does not participate in wars between other states, enter military alliances with warring parties, send them soldiers or weapons or allow them to pass through its territory.

The Pro Schweiz initiative and the right-wing Swiss People’s Party argue that this position was compromised when Bern imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine while also establishing closer ties with NATO.

The Swiss Constitution currently contains no precise definition of neutrality. Activists want to change this by enshrining a commitment to permanent, armed neutrality and barring the country from joining military alliances. They also want to ensure that Switzerland does not participate in conflicts between other countries or impose sanctions on parties to a war unless they are mandated by the United Nations.

Pro Schweiz has collected more than 100,000 signatures to trigger a referendum, which will take place on 27 September in accordance with Switzerland’s tradition of direct democracy. If the proposal is approved, the constitution would need to be amended.

Launching the government’s campaign against the initiative, Cassis said its main objectives were already met, as Switzerland’s neutrality is internationally recognized and the country does not belong to any military or defense alliance. He argued that the proposed changes would instead restrict security cooperation with foreign countries before a crisis or attack.

(Reuters, Max)