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Azerbaijani, Armenian leaders to hold direct talks soon in Abu Dhabi

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Neutral Swiss and Austrians join Europe's Sky Shield defence

07 July 2023 16:14

Switzerland and Austria have signed a declaration of intent to join the European air defence system Sky Shield.

The system was initiated by Germany following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and is designed to allow European countries to buy defence systems together, and train together, BBC reports.

It's being viewed as a historic moment for neutral Switzerland.

But some Swiss fear the move compromises their country's long standing neutrality.

Joining a Europe wide defence system would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine has focused minds.

The continent is unstable, and for many European countries an upgrade of air defences has become inevitable. The Swiss government says working with European neighbours on a common system makes both strategic and financial sense.

Austria is also a neutral country, and the government in Vienna argues that by pooling military resources it is able to maintain that status.

This is not the first dent in Switzerland's traditionally strict neutrality.

As part of Nato's partnership for peace it has had a peacekeeping battalion in Kosovo for two decades. And, to Moscow's anger, it has joined EU sanctions against Russia.

Nineteen countries have now signed up for the Sky Shield initiative, including the UK, the Nordic and Baltic countries, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

But some right-wing Swiss politicians fear Sky Shield is a compromise too far.

If an attack heading for one of its Sky Shield neighbours flew over Switzerland, for example, would the Swiss shoot it down, even if it wasn't involved in the conflict?

In signing an agreement to join the initiative, Switzerland and Austria have stressed their neutrality remains unchanged, but that hypothetical question hasn't really been answered. Probably they are hoping such a situation would never arise.
Caliber.Az
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