There is a lot of misunderstanding in Berlin. German politicians do not understand why the Federal Council explicitly forbids the transfer to Ukraine of cartridges for the Gepard anti-aircraft tank bought years ago.
The German Ministry of Defense takes note of the decision, but does not want to comment further on Blick. But influential politicians in our northern neighbor openly threaten to ignore Switzerland when ordering ammunition in the future.
The FDP member of the Bundestag Marcus Faber (38) – he is on the defense committee – tells Blick: “The Swiss government must now clearly indicate whether it wants to treat Germany as badly in defense as it has attacked Ukraine.” If this is the case, “unfortunately we can no longer count on deliveries from our friendly neighbors”. Then the deputy wants Germany to stop buying weapons in Switzerland in the future.
Switzerland helps Putin starve the poorest
The chair of the defense committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (64, FDP), goes even further. Not only Germany, but all of NATO should reconsider the purchase of Swiss ammunition for weapons vital to the Alliance “for simply pragmatic reasons,” if there is a risk that such a situation could arise again, she says.
If Switzerland doesn’t help protect grain exports, “it indirectly helps Russia starve the poorest countries.” Preventing this must also be in Switzerland’s interest. “It has nothing to do with neutrality, but with decency,” she says.
Enable export with tank ammunition
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (57, SPD) wrote to the Bundesrat for the second time last week. She asked to be allowed to pass on the tank ammunition. This on the grounds that Ukraine urgently needs the ammunition to protect vital infrastructure. The war equipment would be used, among other things, to secure the ports and thus enable the export of grain.
But Minister of Economic Affairs Guy Parmelin (62) sees no room for maneuver. As long as Ukraine is embroiled in an international armed conflict, Switzerland’s hands are bound by the law of neutrality.
“Betrayal of Ukraine”
A position that is also very controversial in Switzerland. For Jean Ziegler (88), the former UN Special Rapporteur and current adviser to the UN Human Rights Council, the federal government’s position is “completely incomprehensible and unacceptable”. It is based on a misunderstanding of neutrality. “This is betrayal of Ukraine,” he says. According to him, the Federal Council should have approved the transfer of the ammunition long ago without worrying about it.
For the former SP National Councilor, one thing is clear: “Parliament must stop the absurd policy of the Federal Council!” Center chairman Gerhard Pfister (60) even believes that the Federal Council would have the legal ability to authorize the transfer – without changing the law.
No political judgment
But above all, the middle National Council notes: “There is a lack of political evaluation. That would be the job of the Federal Council.” Nobody understands “when neutral Switzerland supplies weapons directly to Saudi Arabia, which is participating in the war in Yemen – but at the same time we do not allow Germany to pass on to Ukraine the ammunition it bought from us years ago”. Anyone supplying the Saudis with weapons could also allow Germany to hand them over to defend Ukraine, “if it is in our country’s interest,” Pfister said.
FDP leader Thierry Burkart (47) does not see it that way. The Council of States and lawyer are of the opinion: «In my opinion, it is not possible under the current law to allow exports. That would be a violation of neutrality.” However, he criticizes the fact that the Federal Council is not willing “to amend the law so that we can prevent such cases in the future”. This could be solved if Switzerland files the non-re-export declaration. would abolish it for countries that have as strict arms export regulations as Switzerland.
In any case, if criticism comes from left to right in Switzerland and trouble threatens from Germany, the pressure on the Bundesrat could become so great that the last word has not yet been spoken.