Switzerland continues to reject demands from European countries to allow them to re-export Swiss-made war materiel to Ukraine.
The New York Times accused Switzerland of “months of hand-wringing” to defend its neutral status as the war in Europe rages on.
“Everyone knows this is hurting Switzerland. The entire EU is angry. The Americans are upset. The resentment comes from the Russians too,” the NYT quotes Swiss historian Sacha Zala.
The Financial Times also noted that Berset’s comments will not go down well with other countries.
“Berset’s declaration will confound those who had hoped for the beginnings of a change in Switzerland’s position,” the newspaper noted.
But the situation is not so straightforward in Switzerland where demonstrators gathered in the country’s capital, Bern, at the weekend to demand strict adherence to neutrality.
Switzerland’s largest political party, the Swiss People’s Party, is adamant that Swiss-made weapons should not be sent to war zones.
People’s Party President Marco Chiesa defended Berset’s stance, telling Swiss public broadcaster SRF that neutrality has historically contributed to “security, prosperity and freedom”.
Other political parties, however, are angry at Berset’s comments. “This damages the reputation and positioning of our country,” said Radical Party President Thierry Burkhart.
Other politicians accused Berset of skimming over Russia’s military aggression.
“It is not Switzerland that’s in a war frenzy, but [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is. That’s the main problem,” said Social Democrat Parliamentary President Roger Nordmann.
Popular Stories
More
Life & Aging
Switzerland no longer wants to foot the bill for ‘suicide tourism’
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
Online platforms and UBS in sights of Swiss price watchdog
This content was published on
With over 800 cases processed, including just under 400 recommendations, 2024 once again ended with a record number of cases for the Swiss price watchdog.
Swiss federal office sees no reason to end deportations of asylum-seekers to Croatia
This content was published on
Switzerland's State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) continues to deport asylum-seekers to Croatia. It thus rejects a demand from the Swiss Refugee Council in mid-February, which called for a halt to the returns.
ChatGPT responds to negative emotions and therapy, research shows
This content was published on
Stressful information can also cause anxiety in artificial intelligence (AI). As scientists in Zurich have shown, it's even possible to calm the GPT-4 AI model with mindfulness exercises.
Mortgage benchmark fall paves way for potential rent cuts in Switzerland
This content was published on
Switzerland’s national benchmark for mortgage costs dropped to the level it had before the global inflation surge, paving the way for potential rent reductions.
Switzerland ‘deeply concerned’ by Trump’s death penalty order
This content was published on
Switzerland has told the UN Human Rights Council that it is "deeply concerned" by US President Donald Trump's recent executive order to strengthen capital punishment at federal and state level.
Blatter, Platini return to court for new fraud trial over CHF2 million FIFA payment
This content was published on
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and former UEFA President Michel Platini appeared in court in Switzerland on Monday accused of fraud - 2.5 years after they were cleared.
Israel criticises Swiss decision to host Middle East conference in Geneva on Friday
This content was published on
Israel has condemned Switzerland for planning to host a meeting on international humanitarian law in the Middle East next Friday in Geneva.
Centre Party’s Franziska Biner elected to Valais government
This content was published on
Voters in canton Valais in southern Switzerland elected Franziska Biner to the cantonal government in the first round of voting, beating off more established politicians.
Re-export ban ‘beginning of end’ for Swiss defence firms
This content was published on
Germany’s decision to restart the production of ammunition for Gepard tanks in its own country is having a major impact on the Swiss arms industry.
Switzerland’s war materiel exports reach record level
This content was published on
Swiss companies exported tanks, weapons, and other war materiel worth CHF955 million ($1.02 billion) to 60 countries in 2022.
Wanted: politically convenient definition of ‘neutrality’
This content was published on
Switzerland is in search of a new interpretation of its neutrality. An international comparison shows there are plenty of variations.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.