Switzerland’s largest political party, the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), has condemned the government’s decision to join EU military initiatives, arguing that the move will undermine the nation’s long-held neutrality.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the SVP stated that it “firmly opposes” Switzerland’s participation in the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) military pact. The party claimed that the Swiss Federal Council, by signing up to the framework, is “abandoning our country’s neutrality and sovereignty” while “putting the security of the Swiss population at risk through gross negligence.”
The SVP further accused Defense Minister Viola Amherd and the entire cabinet of employing a “salami tactic” in their “insidious rapprochement with both the EU and NATO.”
Switzerland adopted military neutrality in 1815. The country’s constitution prohibits the shipment of weapons to war zones from or through Swiss territory, as well as the provision of mercenary troops to countries engaged in armed conflicts.
A poll conducted by the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich, a research university, revealed in March that approximately 91% of Swiss citizens believe the country should maintain its neutrality.
Despite the government’s efforts to portray military cooperation with the EU as purely technical, the SVP asserted that participation in PESCO initiatives would inevitably require Switzerland to align its foreign and security policy objectives with those of the bloc.
The party also argued that Swiss interests do not always align with those of the EU, citing the bloc’s expansionist tendencies, particularly regarding Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. Consequently, the SVP insisted that the issue of PESCO participation should be put to a vote in parliament.
In a separate statement on Wednesday, the Swiss central government disclosed that Bern would join the ‘Military Mobility’ and ‘Cyber Ranges Federation’ projects under the PESCO umbrella.
“This strengthens Switzerland’s national defense capabilities” while being “in conformity with Switzerland’s neutrality obligations,” the Federal Council claimed.
According to the statement, the Swiss army will collaborate with 25 EU members on facilitating the cross-border transfer of military hardware across the continent as part of the ‘Military Mobility’ project.
Meanwhile, the ‘Cyber Ranges’ initiative provides access to a simulated cyber-environment, where experts can receive realistic training in repelling cyberattacks.
Despite not being a member of the EU or NATO, Switzerland has joined the West’s sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict.
Commenting in April, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Switzerland “has turned from neutral to openly hostile.”