In the event of a Russian attack, Switzerland wants to defend itself against the aggressor together with its European NATO partners, as Swiss Federal President and Defense Minister Viola Amherd made clear on Tuesday during her inaugural visit to Vienna. “If there is an attack on Switzerland, neutrality will fall.”
While there is a caveat of neutrality in the ‘European Sky Shield’ air defense initiative, things look different in the event of an attack, as Amherd explained. In such a case, Switzerland “could organize our defense with partners,” the Christian Democrat politician added. As with any weapon system, it is hoped that the defensive shield “will not be used”. The cooperation would help Switzerland with defense, Amherd argued at a joint press conference with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen in the Hofburg.
The two neutral countries participate in the initiative of the NATO state of Germany, launched last year, which focuses mainly on joint purchasing, training and the exchange of information, for example via radar data.
Support for the Sky Shield initiative
Van der Bellen also expressed clear support for the Sky Shield initiative. Purchasing missile defense systems is “very expensive” and “too expensive for small states to do alone,” he pointed out. Regarding the neutrality of both states, he described it as the “luck of history” that Austria and Switzerland could cooperate militarily. In general, it is time to think about a better organization of defense within the EU. For example, current supply problems in the ammunition sector are not due to countries spending too little on the military, but rather to the fact that they do not cooperate enough. “The war in Ukraine draws our attention to this: we have a cooperation problem,” the Federal President said.
Inauguration visit rescheduled
Van der Bellen welcomed Amherd with military honors at Ballhausplatz on Tuesday morning. The president, who has been in power since the beginning of this year, is making up for a visit that she had to cancel at the end of January due to corona. In the afternoon she also wanted to meet Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP).
Van der Bellen wants Switzerland in the European Council
The focus of the talks between the two heads of state was on the rapprochement of Ukraine and Switzerland with the EU. In this context, Amherd expressed the hope that the talks between Bern and Brussels, which have been ongoing since mid-March, can be successfully concluded before the end of the year. You work under a lot of pressure, but in the end the quality has to be right, she said, referring to the fact that the outcome of the negotiations must ultimately stand in a referendum.
Van der Bellen expressed his hope for a positive outcome of the negotiations, because not only Switzerland needs the EU, but also the other way around. He himself would be happy if Switzerland “was not only a strong European friend”, but also “sat next to us in the European Council”. It was “a shame” this was unrealistic, he added.
Switzerland wants to host a peace conference in Ukraine
Amherd also reiterated Switzerland’s plan to host a peace conference in Ukraine before the summer. When asked, she said she could not yet provide details about the time and place. The plans were presented in January on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Graubünden ski resort of Davos. The two neutral states of Switzerland and Austria are responding to Russian aggression in Ukraine in a similar manner: strong condemnation of the aggression, including economic sanctions and humanitarian support for the victim of the aggression, but no military aid.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
