New office in Geneva: NATO wants to establish itself in Switzerland

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Switzerland is moving closer to NATO. Latest example: the Federal Council plans to join the Sky Shield air defense system. Until now it seemed as if the attempts at rapprochement mainly came from Bern, but now NATO is taking a step towards Switzerland. The defense alliance wants to open a liaison office at the UN location in Geneva, the Tamedia newspapers announced.

The North Atlantic military alliance already informed about the project in a statement on July 11, albeit well hidden in a side note. It says: “We are exploring the possibility of establishing a liaison office in Geneva to further strengthen our engagement with the United Nations and other relevant international organizations.”

The Swiss Foreign Ministry confirmed the case to Tamedia newspapers. Moreover, the federal government is already taking precautions to welcome NATO to neutral Switzerland, following a decision by the Federal Council.

Not a problem from the federal government’s perspective

“A NATO liaison office in Geneva does not represent a bilateral office of the alliance with official Switzerland, but a liaison office between NATO and the international and non-governmental organizations based in Geneva,” said a spokesperson for federal councilor Ignazio Cassis (62). in perspective for Tamedia newspapers.

In terms of neutrality legislation, this is not a problem, as NATO is an intergovernmental organization in accordance with Swiss host country law. The NATO office in Geneva would therefore be comparable to the office at the UN headquarters in New York.

Cooperation with the UN

The question is what goals NATO is pursuing in Switzerland. The most obvious solution seems to be closer cooperation with the UN. In Geneva, the United Nations runs dozens of organizations that intervene in natural disasters, waves of hunger or refugees and other crises.

But accession to NATO is not yet certain. First, the defense alliance must officially submit an application. And then the Federal Council must say yes. If this happens, NATO employees will gain a foothold in Switzerland – and benefit from privileges such as immunity from prosecution or tax exemption. (rba)

Source:Blick