Switzerland Leaning Towards NATO, Says Largest Party

According to the SVP party, Switzerland is moving closer to NATO and facilitating the transfer of weapons intended for its own defense to Ukraine. Read Full Article at RT.com.

Switzerland Leaning Towards NATO, Says Largest Party
The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) has expressed concerns that Switzerland's neutrality is at risk due to its approach to the Ukraine conflict and collaboration with NATO. The party has called for the resignation of Defense Minister Viola Amherd.

In a press release issued on Saturday, the SVP, which is the largest political party in Switzerland, indicated that recent foreign policy choices threaten the nation’s longstanding neutral stance as well as its defense capabilities. They stated, “Switzerland is no longer able to ensure the security of the country and its population on its own… [Swiss] sovereignty is in danger and has already been partially abandoned.”

The SVP also criticized the leadership and management of the Swiss Army, claiming, “Amherd prefers to deal with gender issues in the army rather than with the army’s equipment. She had weapons that were ordered for Switzerland, delivered to Ukraine,” according to their statement.

Although the SVP did not provide further details, local media reported last summer that the US redirected Patriot missiles originally meant for Switzerland to Ukraine, breaching existing contracts.

Furthermore, the party argued that “anyone who gradually binds Switzerland to NATO is accepting that young Swiss people will die abroad and that Switzerland will be drawn into foreign conflicts.” They emphasized the need for a change in leadership and reiterated their demand for Amherd’s resignation.

Switzerland has upheld its neutral status since 1815, refraining from directly supplying arms to Ukraine and prohibiting other nations from re-exporting Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine and other conflict zones.

Nonetheless, Amherd suggested last autumn a revision of the policy against re-exporting Swiss-made arms to Ukraine, claiming that the embargo adversely affected the country’s industry. The Swiss government has also endorsed EU sanctions against Russia, which led Moscow to designate Switzerland as an “unfriendly nation.”

In recent months, Switzerland has strengthened its relationship with NATO, with Amherd becoming the first defense minister from the country to participate in a meeting of the North Atlantic Council in 2023.

Olivia Brown contributed to this report for TROIB News