“It Won’t Be a Walk”

There was nothing to shake about the decision. Really. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, however, the question arose under new circumstances: should Switzerland actually take a seat on the UN Security Council? No, thought the SVP and called in March 2022 to waive the candidacy. The party saw the country’s neutrality in jeopardy. The majority of parliament came to a different conclusion. So it remained: from today, Sunday, Switzerland will sit in the highest UN body for the next two years – and thus side by side with the great powers.

People are very happy with that: former federal councilor Micheline Calmy-Rey (77). In 2011, the foreign minister launched Switzerland’s candidacy. She does not see it as a personal victory, even though the presence in the UN Security Council naturally fits very well with the active foreign policy advocated by the Genevan. In the words of Calmy-Rey, the seat is the “logical consequence of Switzerland’s active involvement in the UN for 20 years”.

Switzerland’s neutrality is in no way endangered, she says in an interview with SonntagsBlick: “Switzerland is not a party to conflicts, but defends international law.”

“Switzerland has a good reputation”

For Swiss diplomacy, the presence in the Security Council is a major asset. “You can expand your network and access the great powers and information that you normally wouldn’t have.” The former federal councilor goes one step further and says: “Perhaps a seat on the UN Security Council could have prevented the chaos surrounding the sanctions against Russia.” Perhaps the Federal Council would have been less surprised by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “After all, the UN Security Council met two days before the invasion.”

However, Calmy-Rey sees the detention primarily as an opportunity for Switzerland to defend its interests: an order based on international law and not the law of the fittest. And as an active member, the country can achieve a lot: “Switzerland has a good reputation. It is neutral, credible and has a great tradition of good office.”

Calmy-Rey admits that there will of course be pressures from the major powers. “This does not prevent Switzerland from defending its values: democracy, respect for international law and human rights.” And, the foreign policy expert adds, “I never said it would be a walk in the park. But we benefit from being on the UN Security Council. And the world needs the commitment of countries like Switzerland.”

Norway can make the difference

Norway, Switzerland’s quasi-predecessor in the UN Security Council, has experienced that small countries can indeed make a difference.

“Norway is part of NATO, but not of the EU – and is therefore seen as an independent player,” said Niels Nagelhus Schia, 48, a researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Relations. Norway has successfully cooperated with Mexico: “The two countries took the initiative to have the Security Council support the UN Secretary-General in brokering a grain deal between Russia and Ukraine.” Eventually, the UN Security Council met and supported the Secretary-General’s proposal. “That was an important signal,” says Schia.

The country also broke new ground in the Security Council. Norway invited the members to a private conference, Schia explains. “The idea was to draw the attention of members of the Security Council to an important priority for Norway, which is peace diplomacy.” Apparently successfully. Schia: “The reactions to this event were very positive.”