Switzerland in the world: which attitudes and sanctions contradict neutrality?

Here you can find out which Swiss attitudes irritate the world and what Switzerland’s positions are on global issues. In some remote corners of the world, Switzerland is also writing small, no less astonishing stories.

Switzerland covers just 0.008% of the Earth’s surface. This makes it all the more astonishing that it is a regular talking point in the world. This is not only due to the more than 800,000 Swiss nationals living abroad. Switzerland is also closely linked to the world economically and through its many international organisations.

Reduced to the essentials: Switzerland in the world

What a crazy story: In October 2019, gold bars worth around CHF200,000 ($225,000) were found on a train going from St Gallen to Lucerne. Because the packaging was labelled “ICRC consignment” and the owner could not be traced, the gold was recently handed over to the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross).

For the ICRC, however, this is just a drop in the ocean. Despite unprecedented cuts to staff and branches, a funding gap of CHF400 million remains for this year. The United States, Germany, Switzerland, the European Union and the United Kingdom are expected to help cover this shortfall.

The Swiss federal railways was not only in the international media because of the gold bars. A train derailed on the important north-south axis for Europe. And because the damage in the Gotthard Base Tunnel is greater than first suspected, this restriction is likely to be a talking point for some time to come.

The situation at the Kunsthaus Zurich is also in disarray. Despite a new director, the handling of the valuable art collection of the arms dealer Emil Bührle remains controversial. This raises questions that could not be more topical: what legacy of trade and assets does neutrality create?

In Switzerland, however, there is also a more pragmatic approach to the provenance of artworks. The Federal Office of Culture handed over five artefacts to the Chinese embassy in Bern that originated from criminal proceedings and whose provenance could not be determined.

Are there really tourists, for example from China, who visit Sweden because they mistake the country in northern Europe for Switzerland? Hardly. Nevertheless, this confusion goes viral every few years. What both countries have to contend with, however, is mass tourism – at least in certain hot spots, such as Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland.

In selected spotlights: Switzerland in the world

Zain Jaafar / AFP

Israel: Swiss neutrality once again in focus

Following the Hamas attacks in Israel, Switzerland is planning to ban the militant Palestinian group.

We asked Middle East expert Riccardo Bocco how this would be perceived internationally and what it could mean for Switzerland.

Interview with Riccardo Bocco

• ‘Declaring Hamas a terrorist organisation contradicts Switzerland’s neutrality’

Jean-Christophe Bott / Keystone

US: Remote diagnosis because of Swiss cheese

Switzerland will probably import more cheese than it exports for the first time this year, reports the US news portal BloombergExternal link. Its analysis: “After the demise of Credit Suisse and the loss of the exclusive naming rights to Emmental, another blow to Switzerland’s self-image is now coming.”

In our analysis of the same topic, Boris Beuret, president of the umbrella organisation of milk producers (Swissmilk), says he was even contacted by a Swiss Abroad from Las Vegas who was upset.

What is the cause of this development?

• Why Swiss dairy culture is under threat

Natalia Kolesnikova / AFP

Russia: Switzerland’s sanctions in the crosshairs

As an important global hub for commodities trading and assets, Switzerland is often in the spotlight. In particular, this currently concerns commodities and assets from Russia, which are subject to international sanctions. Where does official Switzerland stand? What influence does it have and how is its behaviour commented on internationally?

Our series of articles on oligarch money and Russian oil

Already included in the previous overview of Swiss topics in the world:

• Investigating Swiss traders’ links to murky world of Russian oil
• Switzerland’s secrecy blind spot hinders sanctions enforcement
• ‘We didn’t believe we weren’t being transparent’
• Despite criticism, the Swiss say they’re model enforcers of Russia sanctions
• Switzerland has to ‘go above and beyond’ to implement sanctions

New additions to this article series since then:

• Russia-Iran: how the wheat trade is flourishing despite sanctions
• Russian gold trail leads to Switzerland
• Sanctions: a headache for humanitarian action
• The impact of Russia sanctions on Swiss banks
• Ukraine war: former Estonian president urges Switzerland to lift ban on arms exports

Gaetan Bally / Keystone

Spain and Ukraine: Elections in Switzerland are of interest

Our coverage of the Swiss federal elections met with a great response. The main article alone was cited by almost 50 news sites in ten languages. In addition to Vietnamese and English, it was picked up above all in Spanish, Russian and Ukrainian-language articles.

Main article on the elections and where it is cited

• Elections 2023: Swiss parliament shifts to the right

👉copeExternal link (Spanish; plus 20 articles with the same title on other news sites)
👉actualidadrtExternal link (Spanish)
👉beltaExternal link (Russian)
👉baothanhhoaExternal link (Vietnamese)
👉vietnamplusExternal link (Vietnamese)
👉eurasiareviewExternal link (English)
👉wykopExternal link (Polish)
👉pravdiveExternal link (Czech)
👉hromadskeExternal link (Russian)
👉hromadskeExternal link (Ukrainian)
👉espresotvExternal link (Ukrainian)
👉emanoticiasExternal link (Spanish)
👉euractivExternal link (Polish)
👉imagExternal link (Russian)
👉obozrevatelExternal link (Russian)
👉obozrevatelExternal link (Ukrainian)
👉obozrevatelExternal link (English)
👉nvExternal link (Ukrainian)
👉europereloadedExternal link (English)
👉ukrinformExternal link (Ukrainian)
👉eurointegrationExternal link (Ukrainian)
👉eurointegrationExternal link (Russian)
👉epohaExternal link (Croatian)
👉thebfdExternal link (English)
👉binExternal link (Ukrainian)
👉aktualityExternal link (Slovakian)

Linda Graedel / Keystone

Belarus: Switzerland and universal jurisdiction

In the past, Switzerland has been accused of being too hesitant in prosecuting crimes committed abroad. The conviction of a Liberian military commander for crimes against humanity last summer now paves the way for further proceedings of this kind.

Yuri Harauski, who describes himself as a former member of a hit squad under Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, was acquitted by a Swiss regional court at the end of September. The mere fact that Harauski stood trial in Switzerland is an indication that this type of jurisdiction could become the new normal.

Universal jurisdiction in Switzerland

• Universal jurisdiction gains ground in Switzerland

How to stay tuned in? 

Do you want to know which Swiss issues the international community is interested in? The following curated offer and services could support you in your search: 

SWIplus (SWI swissinfo.ch app) 

Newsletters by SWI swissinfo.ch (on an array of topics)  

Swiss ReviewExternal link (magazine for the Swiss Abroad)