President of Switzerland Viola Amherd. Photo: Keystone / Peter Klaunzer
Swiss President Viola Amherd has called for the lifting of the ban on the re-export of Swiss arms to Ukraine, pointing to the threat this policy poses to national security and the defence industry. According to her, the ban limits Switzerland’s potential in the global arms market and forces other countries to look for suppliers bypassing the neutral state, Reuters reports.
“Personally, I think we need to take a step forward to support our industry,” said Amherd, who also serves as Switzerland’s minister of defence. According to her, countries such as the Netherlands are refraining from purchasing Swiss arms because of re-export restrictions, which threatens the industry’s competitiveness.
Amherd’s statement came amid growing pressure on Switzerland from both domestic political forces and international partners calling for a review of the neutrality policy following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Although the Swiss parliament has already recommended relaxing arms export rules, the government last year left the long-standing policy unchanged.
Amherd also stressed that, despite possible changes in legislation, Switzerland remains committed to the tradition of peaceful mediation and does not intend to supply weapons directly to countries at war.
According to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute, Switzerland ranks 14th among the world’s arms exporters, which underscores its significant contribution to the global military industry, despite its official neutrality. At the same time, arms sales declined in 2023, and critics of neutrality blame this policy for the loss of demand for Swiss products.
The Swiss President also pointed out the need to invest in security at the European level and strengthen cooperation with international partners, including NATO. “Over the past 30 years, Switzerland has not paid due attention to the development of the defence sector, and now we have to catch up,” Amherd said.
The president’s statement signals a possible change in Switzerland’s traditionally neutral position, which seeks to maintain a balance between historical principles and the challenges of modern security in Europe.
