Swiss neutrality proponents challenge arms firms in vote on easing of exports
The referendum would scrap a non-re-export pledge and let Swiss arms makers sell to more Western buyers, a change industry officials say protects 14,000 jobs.
- On November 29, Swiss voters will decide whether to block a parliamentary amendment relaxing weapons export rules, a referendum that challenges Switzerland's long-standing neutral tradition.
- Switzerland's neutrality, grounded in the 1907 Hague Conventions, began shifting after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine prompted deeper defense ties with NATO and European partners.
- Swiss arms manufacturers employ 14,000 people and generated around $1.15 billion in exports last year, with Matthias Zoller of the Swiss Aeronautics, Security and Defence Association warning 154,000 additional jobs depend on "dual use" products.
- Centre Party lawmaker Reto Nause argues the law must reflect a dangerous international environment, while Social Democrat youth leader Mirjam Hostetmann counters that "it's an illusion to believe that more weapons will guarantee more peace."
- The amendment would allow shipments to 36 Western countries, excluding Ukraine, after Bern previously blocked Swiss-made equipment deliveries, prompting Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands to halt orders.
6 Articles
6 Articles
Swiss neutrality proponents challenge arms firms in vote on easing of exports
Swiss voters will decide on November 29 whether to block a bill relaxing curbs on weapons exports, in a referendum that raises questions about Switzerland's evolving neutral tradition and is strongly opposed by the arms industry.
The people vote on whether the strict law on the export of war material should be relaxed. Civic parties and business associations fear for the location. The armaments industry records high profits.
The arms companies are strongly committed to the revision of the law on arms exports, which was put to the vote on 29 November. In case of no, factories could leave Switzerland and jobs disappear, their umbrellas say. A threat that questions, while this industry has never exported so much.
Is the vote on facilitated arms exports about the survival of an industry – or about even higher sales in the global arms boom? Before the vote, the Swissmem Association draws a gloomy picture – opponents cast doubt on this.
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