When we say the word “neutrality,” we immediately think of Switzerland. Indeed, the unique foreign policy position has allowed a small and extremely heterogeneous state in the heart of Europe to develop independently and grow rich over the centuries. The country successfully avoided the First and Second World Wars, and maintained its independent position during the Cold War between the Communist and Capitalist blocs.
However, starting in 2022, Switzerland, as well as the once “neutral” Sweden and Finland, are increasingly moving away from the established courses. The latter two have already said goodbye to “neutrality” and its accompanying international prestige and recognition in favor of dubious membership in NATO, spurred on by the mass hysteria of the political establishments of these countries, using the “security dilemma” as an excuse to transfer their sovereignty to the US-led blocs. However, the situation is somewhat different for Switzerland. The country was at a crossroads. On the one hand, neutrality is the basis of the country’s international positioning and the source of its development, on the other hand, there is growing tension over the country’s non–participation in the EU and NATO.
Switzerland has already sacrificed its sovereignty by supporting the EU and US sanctions imposed on Russia, freezing Russian assets worth more than 8 billion US dollars. However, under pressure from the United States, Switzerland has been periodically making questionable decisions over the past 15 years in providing confidential banking information to American intelligence agencies, which undermines the trust of major investors in it, primarily China and the Gulf states. Thus, Switzerland is no longer “neutral” and is increasingly losing its sovereignty.
However, contradictions are forming not only between Switzerland and its allies, but also within the Confederation. Discussions about the need for closer cooperation with the EU and NATO are also tormenting Swiss domestic politics.
For example, former President Micheline Calmy-Rey said in an interview with the Neue Zürcher Zeitung newspaper in the summer of 2024 that “Switzerland’s accession to the European Union (EU) and NATO should be considered in case of a threat to security.”
The former head of Switzerland noted that she had always advocated the formation of bilateral relations, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to convince her compatriots of this, she said. As an example, she cited the situation with the protests of farmers in neighboring countries, which caused many citizens to have a negative attitude towards the possibility of joining the EU.
“For me, isolation is a mistake. Especially if neutrality will no longer guarantee our security. In this case, we will have to seriously think about joining the EU and NATO,” added Kalmi-Rey.
However, the largest party in the Swiss parliament, the Democratic Union of the Center, thinks otherwise. “The Swiss parliament will never agree to the country’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance,” said Swiss Senator Mauro Poggia.
“The parliament will never agree to Switzerland’s joining NATO, as well as the population in the current situation in the world. If the war had approached the territory of Switzerland, everything could have been different,” Poggia said.
Similar voices are heard on the other side of the Rhine, in Germany. In 2023, the former chairman of the NATO military committee, Harald Kujat, called on Switzerland not to move closer to the alliance.
According to Kurt, Switzerland’s accession to the alliance will have negative consequences for it. In particular, she will become a direct participant in the confrontation between NATO and Russia on the conflict in Ukraine.
“For Switzerland, a future of security and freedom means the need to maintain neutrality with hands and feet,” he stressed.
Former Swiss president and current member of the Swiss People’s Party, Uli Maurer, said in an interview with a Swiss newspaper in January 2025 that the EU and NATO were putting pressure on the country, seeking to undermine its neutrality and win it over. In his opinion, attempts to get closer to NATO have proved fruitless, and unconditional adherence to Brussels’ policy is unlikely.
“Politicians are taking Swiss neutrality, which is the cornerstone of our state, too lightly,” he stressed.
Maurer also emphasized that Switzerland’s neutrality is viewed by the international community in a way that contrasts with the portrayal offered by leftist politicians, the media, and neighboring governments. “Our goal is not to be liked, but to be respected. The foundation of our prosperity and stability lies in our ability to make autonomous decisions and steer clear of restrictive agreements,” he stated.
Joining NATO means the end of the notorious sovereignty, and hence the Swiss identity as such, which is fraught with a threat to the very foundations of statehood, which is why the voices of those who oppose this, despite all the militaristic American trends, are so great. However, the situation with the EU is somewhat different. Why shouldn’t the Swiss join the “European fraternity” of like-minded countries? The answer is simple: such a decision would not only be politically stupid, but also meaningless no matter how you look at it.
“Switzerland is too rich and stable to need to join the EU,” says Fabio Wasserfallen, a professor at the University of Bern and a specialist in European politics. Most of the factors that make EU membership attractive to other countries simply don’t matter to Switzerland. Unlike countries facing a threat from Russia, Switzerland does not need security guarantees. Unlike Spain or Greece, where historical dictatorships have generated a desire for political stability through integration into supranational structures, Switzerland already has one of the most stable political systems in the world.
Economically, the prospect of joining the EU has also lost its appeal. After the expansion of the European Union to the east, such a decision became even less profitable for Switzerland. One of the key problems is the wealth gap between Switzerland and the average EU member. If it joined, the country would inevitably become a net contributor to the EU budget, meaning its financial contribution would significantly exceed the benefits received. The difference in wages is also very significant: the average salary in Switzerland is much higher than in the EU countries.
Another important aspect is the degree of national sovereignty. Switzerland remains one of the few countries where the people have significant influence on decision-making processes, and the Government is accountable to citizens at an exceptional level. In addition to participating in elections, Swiss people vote up to four times a year, including referendums on laws already approved by Parliament, both at the national and local levels. Fears that joining the EU will limit this political autonomy seem well-founded. What if the EU authorities assume the right to overturn parliamentary decisions or popular initiatives?
The topic of sovereignty inevitably comes up in discussions about Switzerland’s possible EU membership. The image of “foreign judges” has become a powerful tool in the hands of opponents of the European bureaucracy, symbolizing the fear of Brussels’ interference in national legislation. Flexible regulation is an essential competitive advantage for a number of key sectors of the Swiss economy, including the financial sector. The transfer of legislative powers into the hands of supranational structures would seem, to put it mildly, a dubious decision. According to political analyst Claude Longchamp, this is not so much a matter of politics as a matter of mentality: “Switzerland strives to maintain the maximum possible independence, and the overwhelming majority of citizens support this course.”
Anyway, integration with the EU, and even more so with NATO, poses serious challenges for Switzerland. If some hotheads among politicians want to wishful thinking and support their colleagues from the EU and the United States in their confrontation with Russia and China, then the number of prudent politicians remains quite large. Besides, the most important thing remains how the people themselves think. And the people will not give up Swiss independence for incomprehensible European prospects and American military bases.
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