Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Yemeni Armed Forces have launched an additional drone toward "Israel," and it was intercepted.
Occupied Palestine: The IOF spokesman announced the Air Force intercepted an unmanned aircraft from the east.
Head of the Russian delegation to the talks in Turkey: The Russian-Ukrainian talks yielded good results.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: Martyrs and wounded after an IOF aircraft bombed a house in Tal al-Zaatar, north of the Gaza Strip.
Libya: The Libyan Ministry of Health declares a state of maximum emergency in all hospitals to support medical staff working in Tripoli and its suburbs.
Libya: Demonstrations in several Libyan cities demand the overthrow of the Dbeibah government.
Italian Foreign Ministry: We are following developments in Libya with concern and reiterate our call for all parties to return to calm and dialogue.
Libya: Demonstration in Bani Walid calls for the overthrow of the Dbeibah government and holding it accountable.
Libya: Sabratha Municipal Council supports the overthrow of the Dbeibah government and calls on it to leave.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: The IOF is carrying out massive bombing operations in the northern Gaza Strip.

SVP slams Swiss government decision to join EU military initiatives

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Aug 2024 16:22
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The Swiss army will collaborate with 25 EU states to facilitate the cross-border transport of military equipment across the continent as part of the "Military Mobility" initiative.

  • x
  • Switzerland accused of undermining neutrality
    The Switzerland national flag waves in the wind on Lake Geneva in Geneva, Switzerland Sunday, June 13, 2021. (AP)

The Swiss People's Party (SVP), a key political force and the largest group in the country's Federal Assembly, has criticized Bern's decision to join EU military programs. The right-wing party has stated that the measure will erode the nation's customary neutrality gravely.

The SVP stated on Wednesday it "firmly opposes" Switzerland's involvement in the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) military deal, arguing that by doing so, the Swiss Federal Council is "abandoning our country's neutrality and sovereignty" while "putting the security of the Swiss population at risk through gross negligence."

The SVP also accused Defense Minister Viola Amherd and her cabinet of employing a "salami tactic" in their "insidious rapprochement with both the EU and NATO."

Switzerland declared military neutrality in 1815 prohibiting the transfer of weapons to war zones from or via Swiss territory, as well as giving mercenary forces to countries engaged in armed conflicts.

In March, the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich, a research institution, polled Swiss residents and found that 91% felt the country should remain neutral.

Despite the government's attempts to portray military cooperation with the EU as purely technical, participation in PESCO projects would ultimately necessitate Switzerland aligning its foreign and security policy aims with those of the bloc, the SVP argued.

The party also contended that Switzerland's interests do not always align with those of the EU, noting the bloc's expansionist inclinations, particularly in Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. As a result, the SVP insisted on putting PESCO participation to a vote in parliament.

Related News

China, Switzerland mark 75 years with push to expand trade ties

China’s exports to US fall 17.6% March to April amid trade war

In a second announcement issued on Wednesday, the Swiss central government announced that Bern will join the "Military Mobility" and "Cyber Ranges Federation' programs under the PESCO banner.

"This strengthens Switzerland's national defense capabilities" while remaining "in conformity with Switzerland's neutrality obligations," the Federal Council declared.

According to the announcement, the Swiss army will collaborate with 25 EU states to facilitate the cross-border transport of military equipment across the continent as part of the "Military Mobility" initiative.

Moreover, the "Cyber Ranges" program provides access to a simulated cyber environment in which professionals may receive training in cyberattack response.

Despite not being a member of the EU or NATO, Switzerland has joined the West's sanctions on Russia, prompting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to label it as "openly hostile".

Swiss Upper House rejects $5.58bln aid plan for Ukraine

In June, Switzerland's Upper House of Parliament declined a proposal for a 5 billion Swiss franc ($5.58 billion) aid allocation for Ukraine, which was part of a larger financial package. The rejection reportedly stemmed from concerns that the plan violated borrowing constraints in the neutral country.

Lawmakers voted against the 15 billion franc package, with 28 opposing and 15 voting in favor. The package also encompassed 10.1 billion francs in supplementary funding for the country's armed forces.
 
The plan's failure had been widely expected in recent weeks, especially among right-leaning legislators who were particularly against it. Lawmakers contended that the package violated Switzerland's "debt brake" provision and rejected it two weeks before the Swiss government was set to host a high-level summit aimed at facilitating peace in Ukraine, without Russia's presence.

The package, which was endorsed by a separate parliamentary committee in April, was designed as an exceptional contribution to Switzerland's security and "peace in Europe," given the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Switzerland faces pressure from Western allies to increase assistance to Ukraine, while simultaneously contending with demands from right-wing nationalist lawmakers advocating for strict neutrality.

  • Switzerland
  • European Union
  • Europe
  • Ukraine
  • Russia
  • Bern

Most Read

Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Palestinians pray over bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment who were brought from the Shifa hospital before burying them in a mass grave in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP )

Gaza casualty figures mask a much bigger horror, new study shows

  • Politics
  • 11 May 2025
Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza
MENA

Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, May 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Trump administration planning to send 1 million Palestinians to Libya

President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' concerned, says US withholding info about indirect Iran talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the annual ceremony at the Yad LaBanim Memorial in occupied al-Quds on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu cancels Vatican visit over fears of ICC arrest

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS