Switzerland rejects stricter interpretation of its neutrality

Voters in Switzerland have overwhelmingly rejected a stricter interpretation of the country's tradition of diplomatic neutrality.

Key points

• Switzerland was internationally recognised in 1815 when the country was granted "eternal neutrality" at the Congress of Vienna, during a period of war and upheaval in Europe.
• More than 70% of Swiss voters rejected proposals that would have prevented the European nation from imposing sanctions without UN approval, official results indicated.
• Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis remarked during a recent televised debate that "neutrality has always been applied with a degree of flexibility".
• This neutrality was legally defined by the Hague Convention of 1907.
• It additionally banked gold looted by the Nazis and, in a move designed to keep Nazi Germany from invading, turned away thousands of Jewish refugees.

In practice, the move would have additionally prevented Switzerland from pursuing closer ties with the Nato military alliance.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has reopened the debate around Switzerland's centuries-old non-alignment.

Moscow openly backed the initiative. It was backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) and resisted by the federal administration and all other major parties.

Lukas Golder, co-director of research institute Gfs.bern informed Swiss public broadcaster SRF that Swiss voters had not rejected embracing its neutrality but that the vote demonstrated Switzerland was in favour of sanctions against Russia.

"People have a clear idea of what Switzerland's neutrality is supposed to achieve, " he remarked.

While Switzerland had no intends to lift a ban on selling arms to countries in conflict, including Ukraine, he stressed that "neutrality does not mean indifference".

He continued that Switzerland would "not look away when we see violations of the very international rules that allow us to live in peace".

This neutrality was legally defined by the Hague Convention of 1907. It forbade Switzerland supplying weapons to countries at war. It previously rejected a request from Germany for ammunition for tanks being sent to Kyiv.

Switzerland remained neutral through World War Two. It additionally banked gold looted by the Nazis and, in a move designed to keep Nazi Germany from invading, turned away thousands of Jewish refugees. Switzerland apologised for the policies in the 1990s.

Switzerland's system of direct democracy means major political decisions are often deferred to the voters through referenda.

Taken together, the developments around switzerland rejects stricter interpretation of its neutrality point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.