Swiss president calls for revision of arms export ban to Ukraine

Switzerland’s president expressed support on 28 October for revising the current ban that prohibits the re-export of Swiss-made weapons from other countries to Ukraine, stating that the embargo was negatively impacting both Switzerland’s defence industry and its security.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, pressure has been mounting both domestically and internationally for Switzerland to reconsider its longstanding tradition of neutrality, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The Swiss parliament has already recommended loosening these restrictions on arms exports, though the government refused to alter its policy last year.

"Personally, I think we need to make a step forward for our industry,” said President Viola Amherd, who also serves as the Swiss defence minister, during a press event in Bern in response to a question on the issue.

She acknowledged the concerns of nations like the Netherlands, saying, “It becomes difficult because countries like the Netherlands have decided not to buy in Switzerland as it’s not free to re-export, which I understand.”

Amherd added, “If we have a problem with our armaments industry, that means we also have a security problem because it’s important to have technology and know-how."

However, she noted that Switzerland – which traditionally acts as a peace mediator in global conflicts – would never supply arms directly to a nation engaged in war.

Despite its reputation for neutrality, Switzerland is a notable arms exporter, ranking as the 14th largest supplier globally in 2022, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Swiss arms sales dropped in 2023, with critics attributing this to the country’s neutral stance.

Amherd further stated that Switzerland needed to bolster security cooperation across Europe and planned to strengthen ties with partners, including NATO. “In the last 30 years, Switzerland has not invested enough in defence and we need to catch up,” she said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev