>>1350350It is striking that one of the most sober analyses of the European security situation comes from Switzerland, which by many is seen as the safe, rich, neutral, mountainous country without real enemies, is in no immediate danger, and can position itself slightly outside history. But the commission reminds the reader that threats are connected, especially in Europe – dangers don’t stop at borders, not even mountainous ones, and relying on others for your security could be a losing strategy.
Swiss policy making tends to be slow, even slower than other Western European systems, due to its participative democracy, and, in the case of security and defence policy, a lack of urgency. However, a revised Swiss security policy is to be published by the government by the end of 2025, and the commission’s report will certainly inform its drafting – and its speed.
More importantly, the fact that a large majority of the commission’s members are supporting a fundamental rethinking of Switzerland’s neutrality policy and alliance relationships is a sign of a change in discussions around neutrality. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has led many European neutral or non-aligned countries to question their position. Finland and Sweden abandoned their status completely, joining NATO in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
