“US is already trying to apply pressure”

Switzerland has been a member of the UN Security Council since the beginning of this year – side by side with the superpowers US, China and Russia. In the run-up to the candidacy, there were concerns that the country would jeopardize its neutrality. What does the UN expert say about this? A conversation with Thomas Biersteker (72), Professor of International Relations at the IHEID in Geneva.

Mr Biersteker, is Switzerland risking its neutrality by joining the UN Security Council?
Thomas Biersteker: no When making decisions, Switzerland must be guided by its well-known positions: defense of human rights, respect for international law, mediation in conflict situations. This is not a violation of neutrality, but it is true that the UN Security Council is more politicized today than it was five or ten years ago. The great powers are more hostile to each other. That makes it harder to find solutions.

How is that possible?
The growing politicization began with the dispute over the intervention in Libya in 2011. The US, Britain and France interpreted the UN mandate to protect the population as a free passage for regime change – which Russia and China strongly disagreed with. Added to this were the sanctions against Russia after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The relationship between the US and China has also deteriorated in recent years. But all this does not mean that the big ones just order the small ones.

No?
The Swiss diplomats are very well prepared – I should know, I have trained and prepared some of them for their time in the UN Security Council (laughs). Several people I spoke to recently at UN headquarters in New York said to me: Switzerland is the country that has prepared best for its seat on the UN Security Council.

Nevertheless, countries like the US or China will probably try to put pressure on Switzerland.
No doubt. But being there. For example, when Switzerland initially refused to accept EU sanctions against Russia, calls came from Brussels and Washington.

The US pressured Switzerland to accept the sanctions?
Precisely. As you can see, major powers such as the US are already trying to apply pressure precisely because of the important role that the Swiss financial center plays. And what should not be forgotten: Switzerland is also gaining influence through its seat in the UN Security Council – because some of the major powers depend on Switzerland’s support. Moreover, thanks to its years of experience in conflict resolution, Switzerland has the opportunity to play an active role in the UN Security Council.

Please an example.
Switzerland is expected to chair the North Korea sanctions committee. The file is complicated because China, Russia and the US do not agree on how to proceed. Thanks in part to relations with North Korea, Switzerland has the opportunity to propose a compromise solution. If there’s one country that can do that, it’s Switzerland.

So that even small states can achieve success?
Absolute. I don’t think many Swiss are aware of the important role their country has played so far, for example in reforming the processes of the Security Council.

That sounds a bit abstract…
An example: Switzerland – together with other countries – has ensured that there is an ombudsman for people who end up on a UN terror sanctions list. Before that, it was not possible to remove those affected from the list. In addition, Switzerland launched a reform several years ago, according to which two vetoes are necessary to block a resolution in case of genocide or crimes against humanity. That would prevent great powers from protecting individual countries where the regime takes action against its own population. Like China with Myanmar, Russia with Syria or the US with Israel.

Let me guess: the great powers vetoed it.
In the UN General Assembly, a majority of states would have been in favour, but some vetoed against. They then pressured the UN Secretary-General to insist that the amendment would require a two-thirds majority instead of a simple majority. Instead of putting the resolution to the vote – and risking failure – Switzerland withdrew the resolution. Now France has picked up the ball and wants to raise the issue again. They are small steps, but: Switzerland has been a major player in institutional reform at the UN over the past 20 years.