Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen does not see Austria’s participation in the European air defense initiative Sky Shield as a foregone conclusion. “Austria is not yet bound by a contract,” he said on Friday.
The FPÖ, for example, is strictly against it. “Personally, I have always believed that the Sky Shield Initiative is positive, also because it was undertaken together with Switzerland,” said Van der Bellen. Cooperation with neighboring countries is particularly important given the geopolitical situation, added Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter, who met her counterpart in Vienna.
Unlike in Austria, no consensus principle applies in Switzerland, because the most important political decisions are taken in referenda anyway. The SVP party therefore wants to thwart Swiss participation in Sky Shield through a referendum.
Sky Shield is intended to improve the European air defense system and was proposed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. The plan is to jointly purchase new weapon systems that cover a large area as cheaply as possible. Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP) signed a declaration of intent to join in 2023.
“Solving problems independently of people”
Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Great Britain also want to become members.
Keller-Sutter fundamentally does not think that an FPÖ chancellorship could have a negative effect on bilateral and EU relations. “Relationships often revolve around concrete problems that need to be solved. We solve them together, regardless of the people.”
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.
