Can a European country remain neutral when there is a war in the heart of Europe?

Switzerland succeeded both during the First World War and during the Second World War. However, today, watching Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, many Swiss are rethinking their country’s traditional neutrality.

Switzerland’s neutrality was proclaimed at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. It was a practical geopolitical decision. He was supported because Switzerland was considered a safe buffer between powerful European powers – France on the one hand, and Austria and Prussia – on the other. This provided security for Switzerland when its neighbors destroyed each other.

During World War II, Swiss neutrality was pragmatic rather than heroic. Switzerland has mobilized able-bodied men to guard the country’s borders. But the gold looted by the Nazis flowed into Swiss banks. This shameful practice, for which Switzerland had to apologize in the 1990s, was conceived as a way to keep the Germans at bay, but in fact deterred thousands of Jewish refugees.

One way or another, and gratitude for security during the two terrible wars of the twentieth century, “is almost in our genes” – so explains how important for the Swiss neutrality of their country, political commentator Tagesanzeiger Marcus Gefliger.

Over the decades, neutrality has been supported by the vast majority of Swiss people – more than 90%, according to opinion polls. But now, says Geflinger, the Swiss have begun to doubt.

“They ask themselves: how can we remain neutral when there is a war like the one in Ukraine? After all, it is now clear who is good and who is bad.”

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February, thousands of Swiss took to the streets condemning the aggression and demanding that the government support Ukraine. Thousands have also opened their homes to refugees from Ukraine who have been granted collective visa-free protection by the Swiss government.

For young Swiss, the idea of being able to stay out of this situation seemed particularly unthinkable.

“The Swiss are beginning to realize that they are part of a whole family of European liberal democracies. And that (the war in Ukraine) is a struggle between political systems – the one we are in, and Putin’s autocratic, kleptocratic system,” Sanya said. Ameti, head of the Operation Libero youth movement, advocates closer ties with Europe and against Swiss isolationism.

And the “bell” that woke the Swiss was the war in Ukraine.

This view is shared by most political forces and members of the Swiss government, who after a short period of doubt agreed to join the EU sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

This is very different from what it was only 40 years ago, when – to the shame of many Swiss – the country did not support sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa.

Switzerland’s accession to the sanctions has been hailed by newspapers around the world. It also suggested that Switzerland had left neutrality.

In fact, when it comes to sanctions, Switzerland has long been bypassing sharp corners of neutrality, says Stephanie Voltaire, a professor of political science at the University of Zurich.

“Over the last twenty years, Switzerland has often betrayed neutrality,” he said. “In the 1990s, it joined the UN sanctions against Iraq and then the sanctions against the former Yugoslavia. “.

While sanctions are supported by most Swiss, military assistance to Ukraine has not been considered at all.

Switzerland’s neutrality is legally defined by the 1907 Hague Convention. And it bans the supply of weapons to countries at war. This is also prohibited by the Swiss arms export law, which has recently become even stricter.

That is why, when Germany asked Switzerland to provide shells for tanks sent by Berlin to Kyiv, Switzerland refused. The refusal was criticized, and criticism came unexpectedly from the centrist party Die Mitte, whose leader said it would be legitimate to provide weapons to defend democracy in Europe.

Other centrist politicians also talked about the possibility of closer ties between Switzerland and NATO, including a joint air defense system and participation in military exercises.

A few months ago, such views would have seemed incredible. Even now, they are fiercely criticized by right-wing political forces such as the Swiss People’s Party, which threatens to hold a referendum and even lift sanctions, while the left-wing Social Democrats and Greens oppose military aid.

However, step by step, many Swiss are beginning to think about a new identity and a new security strategy for their country.

A recent poll found that although two-thirds of Swiss people continue to oppose joining NATO, more than half (52%) are opposed to joining the European Defense Alliance.

This plan, called Pesco in Brussels (military cooperation with the consent of the parliaments of the member states), should unite the countries with a common security and defense policy. Their armies will cooperate, and the use of aircraft, tanks and other weapons will also be shared. The ultimate goal of all this is a common European army.

The idea of participating in something like neutral Switzerland, which is also not a member of the EU, a few months ago would have seemed incredible. But the war in Ukraine changed my mind.

Sanya Ameti believes that Switzerland is obliged to join the defense of liberal European democracy.

“We really need to discuss whether we need to defend our system with weapons in hand,” she said. “Because that would mean giving up neutrality.”

Professor Voltaire does not go that far, but suggests that “Switzerland needs to redefine its neutrality.”

For Marcus Gefliger, the war in Ukraine made it clear that Switzerland needed to decide its place in the new, polarized world.

“Switzerland is so clearly part of the Western world – its values, its economy, its traditions, everything,” he said.

“But the question is, can we maintain traditional neutrality in this new world order?”

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