I am new to the country, so wanted to ask folks who know more.
Every month I see news articles about closer integration with NATO, today it’s integration with " NATO’s Support and Procurement Agency".
Is this some recent development, or was this the case 10y ago?
Swiss neutrality is a cornerstone of its foreign policy, established to ensure independence, territorial integrity, and peace. Codified in international law through the Hague Conventions of 1907, neutrality obliges Switzerland to refrain from war, defend itself, treat belligerents equally in arms exports, and deny military use of its territory. It does not apply to UN-authorized peacekeeping operations.
Neutrality has been part of Switzerland’s identity since the Treaty of Paris in 1815. It has not joined military alliances like NATO or the EU and is known for hosting humanitarian organizations and peace negotiations.
However, recent geopolitical events, such as sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, have sparked debates about whether such actions compromise neutrality. Critics argue these measures deviate from tradition, while supporters see them as compatible with modern interpretations of neutrality.
Selling and buying weapons with Nato does not necessarily mean taking sides. All collaboration would stop in the event that one country being involved in war. They probably use Microsoft Windows too, this does not affect neutrality either. They have to live in the world, cannot re-invent anything.
As for neutrality, I think is as good as it can be, I cannot think of another country more neutral (with a history to demonstrate it, there are countries proclaiming neutrality, but have never been involved in war to test how far thy would go to defend it).
A sense of history is one thing. Living in the past is another. It is not 1815 or 1914 or 1939. The changes in Switzerland have been a long time coming and they are continually developing. Being the hole in the doughnut is a tricky place particularly with regard to the EU and to NATO
Didn’t stop them in the last world war.
Imagine being a country selling arms to one power whilst hoping that the opposing power keeps them safe from the power they are selling to.
Neutrality is a pretty flexible word in these parts.
I would say it’s rather easy to be “neutral” in these parts, not Ottomans, no Russian Empire (they had the Habsburgs too though) constantly going for your jugular.
The fact that they have these safe banks where even the most cruel regimes can hide their money, is one of the guarantees of this neutrality.
I absolutely love that Switzerland is “neutral”, however, it would be silly to think this neutrality is not the result of geography and a certain opportunism, for which I congratulate them.
Neutrality existed before the swiss “safe banks”, they probably appeared as a consequence of neutrality. There are many video documentaries (swiss and foreign) analysing the historic evolution of Swiss neutrality. Of course geography was key (little interest in conquering a small mountainous region) and the existence of a neutral country was useful to many historic powers.
Neutral means military neutral, but restricted to military personnel and weapons.
About military intelligence, Switzerland was anything but neutral after WW2. The Swiss government was well aware that the US CIA profited from “Swiss neutrality” to spy on about 100 governments around the world from Cold War times until 2018.
A 2020 WaPo article titled: The intelligence coup of the century - For decades, the CIA read the encrypted communications of allies and adversaries.
You’re basically repeating what I’ve written in my previous post. Just look at who the Switzerland’s neighbours are.
The FBI did the same sort of thing.
The set up a company, ANOM, which sold encrypted mobile phones. These were sold through a network of distributors.
Criminal syndicates around the world loved these and used them (the marketing suggested that no law-enforcement agencies could unencrypt them.
The results were quite impressive:
Grand totals for the entire investigation include 800 arrests; and seizures of more than 8 tons of cocaine; 22 tons of marijuana; 2 tons of methamphetamine/amphetamine; six tons of precursor chemicals; 250 firearms; and more than $48 million in various worldwide currencies~~.~~ Dozens of public corruption cases have been initiated over the course of the investigation. And, during the course of the investigation, more than 50 clandestine drug labs have been dismantled.