Switzerland

From bad to worse

In the war of the roses between the USA and the EU, Switzerland is siding with Brussels – and thus moving further away from its neutrality

by Michael Straumann*

(28 March 2025) The last few weeks and months have shown a major rift between Washington and Brussels. Initially, J.D. Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference caused a stir, giving Western Europe’s political elite a lecture. This was followed by the public quarrel between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, which ended with the USA cancelling its further participation in military aid to Ukraine. The European Union’s reaction was unequivocal: it intensified its blind loyalty to Kiev. The EU now stepped in to replace the weapons that the US had previously contributed.

The slow decline of Swiss diplomacy

But all hope is not yet lost

by Guy Mettan,* Geneva

(21 March 2025) Having failed to reach a consensus, Switzerland had to give up organising the humanitarian summit on Palestine. When will it finally understand that international Geneva and Switzerland’s role as a mediator cannot be saved by jumping around shouting “Multilateralism! Multilateralism!” and pulling a few million out of your pocket to save reckless NGOs?

Neutrality or NATO?vv

Founding meeting of the “Movement for Neutrality”

by Daniel Funk, “Transition News”

(21 March 2025) The “Movement for Neutrality” was founded on 9 March. The new organisation’s first goal is to help the cross-party neutrality initiative to succeed in getting neutrality enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

Change of heart in Bern?

The Federal Council welcomes the US government’s peace efforts in Ukraine. Is this the start of a U-turn in Swiss foreign policy?

by Michael Straumann*

(7 March 2025) US Vice President J.D. Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference caused a stir. He sharply criticised politicians in EU countries for no longer respecting the democratic will of their own people and restricting freedom of expression. Vance received widespread support for this in social media. By contrast, the politicians of the old parties in Europe, especially in Germany, were not impressed.

Swiss government continues to practice double standards

by Christian Müller*

(14 February 2025) Can a woman be “a little bit pregnant”? No, either she is pregnant, or she is not! It is the same with neutrality: either a state is neutral, or it is not neutral. But the Swiss government is pursuing a US- and NATO-friendly course, while claiming that, as a “neutral country”, it is also a good place for peace talks.

Switzerland

E-ID-Act: People’s will ignored

by Michael Straumann,* Switzerland

(2 February 2025) In 2021, the Swiss rejected the e-ID Act. The Federal Council and parliament are now trying to push the electronic identity through with a new Act. – It is not the citizens who are delegitimising the state, it is the state itself.