Although Switzerland has already said no
Spain submits request to hand over Swiss cannons to Kyiv
Spain wants to deliver military material to Ukraine, but Switzerland forbids this for reasons of neutrality. Nevertheless, Spain has now submitted a transfer request.
Published: 7 minutes ago
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Spain wants permission from Switzerland to transfer two anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs received such a request on Monday.
Spain wants permission from Switzerland to transfer two anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine. The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) received such a request on Monday, as a Seco spokesman announced on Tuesday.
The spokesman said that Seco would examine the request for two 35-millimeter anti-aircraft guns imported from Switzerland. However, the transfer of Swiss war material is unlikely to be possible.
Switzerland rejects the export of war material
For reasons of neutrality and because of the War Material Act, Switzerland does not authorize the re-export of Swiss war material to the Ukraine. She justified this by saying that according to the War Material Act, she must refuse war material exports if the country of destination is involved in an international armed conflict – as is the case with Russia and Ukraine.
Last year, Switzerland twice refused to allow war material produced in Switzerland to be passed on to Ukraine. Germany wanted to pass on tank ammunition made in Switzerland, Denmark Piranha infantry fighting vehicles.
Swiss attitude met with little understanding
The Swiss position is internationally disputed. The Spanish defense minister recently told Spanish diplomats that she respects Switzerland’s neutrality, but Swiss legislation prevents Spain from “participating in a legitimate defense against the unjust, illegal and cruel Russian invasion” of Ukraine.
The handling of war material will soon be an issue again in the Swiss Parliament. In a motion, the Aargau FDP Councilor of States Thierry Burkart calls for the war material law to be relaxed. Certain states should therefore not have to submit a non-re-export declaration if they buy armaments in Switzerland. The exception should apply to countries that share Switzerland’s values and have rules for arms exports that are comparable to those of Switzerland.
Federal Council rejects relaxation
The motion was put on the agenda in the responsible committee of the Council of States at the beginning of February. However, the Federal Council rejects the request.
In the first half of 2022, war material worth around 517 million francs was exported from Switzerland. That was more than it had been in years. The most important customer was Qatar – the desert emirate mainly received anti-aircraft systems. The lion’s share of war material exports went to around thirty countries in Europe. (SDA)