Protestors swarm the streets of Switzerland's capital, Bern, to retaliate against Russia (Photo: AFP/Fabrice COFFRINI)
Switzerland, the land of cows and rolling mountains, is renowned for its strict policy of neutrality regarding international conflicts. Despite the nation’s somewhat problematic geographical placement, acting as a literal buffer between former enemies Germany and France, the country has maintained its neutrality for over 200 long years, spanning all the way back to 1815 following the Napoleonic Wars. Persevering through both World War I and World War II, the appalling abandonment of neutrality regarding the Russo-Ukrainian War has shocked most of the world, for good reason. This conflict has not yet reached the point of a World War, so what prompted Switzerland to break its 200 year tradition for an armed conflict regarding two nations?
Switzerland has adopted the concept of political isolationism when it comes to involvement in international conflict, essentially meaning that they isolate themselves from external political tensions. This concept had previously been adopted by the United States of America, beginning from George Washington’s Farewell Address. Although Switzerland is a neutral nation, they have not refrained from giving their support through humanitarian aid. Following the Kosovo War in 1999, Switzerland sent a large legion of unarmed Swiss volunteers to Kosovo to help locals and maintain peace. Additionally, the country has been vital for holding tense conferences between world leaders. The Swiss city of Geneva served as the first meeting point for Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. When Switzerland first joined NATO in 1996, their goal was made very clear: to achieve permanent peace and security in Europe. So, this brings us back to our main question: If Switzerland managed to remain neutral throughout the two World Wars, why have they broken their neutrality for the Russo-Ukrainian War?
First, it is necessary to understand what Switzerland did to break its neutrality. On February 28th, 2022, Switzerland imposed an array of financial, asset freeze, and entry/exit sanctions on Russia, effectively deeming themselves in opposition to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine. The Swiss President, Ignazio Cassis, had stated that “[they] are in an extraordinary situation where extraordinary measures could be decided.” The reasoning behind Switzerland’s imposition of sanctions is essentially that Russia has gone against all that Switzerland stands for. Russia has attacked a sovereign, independent country, fundamentally attacking the concepts of democracy and freedom. While Switzerland’s response makes sense, it seems contradictory. In World War II, Germany had overtaken multiple European nations, such as The Netherlands and Belgium. Is this not a violation of democracy and freedom? However, it must be recognized that we live in a more modern world where democracy is more normalized than it was at the time of World War II, and that if Switzerland were to join the Allies, they would be easily overtaken by Germany. While there are multiple differences between World War II and the Russo-Ukrainian War, Switzerland’s role in World War II could be seen as immoral and an act of cowardice, especially given the magnitude of the war in comparison to the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Bibliography
Noack, Rick, and Sammy Westfall. “In Move to Sanction Russia, Switzerland Breaks from Long Tradition.” The Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/28/switzerland-neutral-ukraine-russia-sanctions/. Accessed 2 Apr. 2022.
“White & Case LLP International Law Firm, Global Law Practice.” White & Case LLP, 7 Mar. 2022, https://www.whitecase.com/publications/alert/switzerland-reinforces-its-sanctions-against-russia. Accessed 2 Apr. 2022.
“Why Switzerland Is a Neutral Country.” Expat Guide to Switzerland | Expatica, 16 May 2014, https://www.expatica.com/ch/moving/society-history/neutral-switzerland-107842/. Accessed 2 Apr. 2022.
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