Switzerland’s neutrality vote puts Russia sanctions on the line
Voters will decide in a referendum on Sunday on whether to make Switzerland's historic neutrality even more legally binding.
Swiss voters will decide on Sunday whether to redefine the country's centuries-old policy of neutrality in a constitutional referendum. If approved, Switzerland would be barred from imposing sanctions on Russia unless authorized by the UN Security Council, and would not be able to cooperate militarily with alliances like NATO without facing an attack first.
Russia has supported the initiative, stating it's not against neutrality but about what neutrality entails. However, the vote raises questions about how neutral a country can be in today's European security landscape, where Russia is waging war against Ukraine and traditional U.S. security guarantees are under threat. Other neutral nations like Austria and Ireland are increasing defense spending and strengthening ties with NATO.
Switzerland's neutrality is recognized in international law, but the government retains discretion in applying its broader neutrality policy. The initiative, backed by a national-conservative group and billionaire Christoph Blocher, grew out of backlash against Switzerland's mirrored EU sanctions against Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
While a majority of Swiss lawmakers oppose the proposal, the referendum could significantly impact the country's identity, standing in the world, and business appeal.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
