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Defense Minister Viola Amherd (60) has long been striving for closer cooperation with the Western defense alliance NATO – always in the context of neutrality, she emphasizes. On Wednesday, she was allowed to put forward concrete wishes during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (64).
Amherd emphasized after the meeting in Brussels that the representatives of the North Atlantic Council were also open to more cooperation between Switzerland and NATO.
Amherd is not alone in this wish. Today, a narrow majority of 55 percent is in favor of a rapprochement with the Western Defense Alliance – ten percentage points more than in January 2021. This is the conclusion of the study “Security 2023” of the Military Academy (Milak) and the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich. Accession to NATO, on the other hand, remains a minority interest of 31 percent.
cooperation on a case-by-case basis
Specifically, Switzerland wants to participate more in NATO exercises, expand interoperability between the Swiss military and NATO, increase participation in NATO-certified competence centers and work more closely with NATO in the areas of resilience, cyber and innovation.
When asked by journalists whether Switzerland should also participate in so-called Article 5 exercises, Amherd said Switzerland would have to decide “on a case-by-case basis”. No one on the NATO side spoke against it. It was explicitly stated that Switzerland should be able to participate in all exercises.
Article 5 of the NATO treaty is the so-called “aid clause”, which states that if a NATO country is attacked, the other NATO countries promise to provide assistance.
Switzerland compiles a wish list
The increased cooperation with NATO desired by Switzerland is also a result of the war in Ukraine. Last September, the federal government published a supplementary report to the Security Policy Report 2021, which mentions the objective of enhanced cooperation.
To this end, NATO has the instrument of an “Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program” (ITPP). Talks are currently underway between Switzerland and NATO.
All parties agreed that such an ITPP would be entered into with Switzerland. Switzerland plans to draft a set of rules by the summer that will include all desired projects.
NATO wants permission for arms deliveries
Swiss neutrality was also discussed in this context. She was assured that this and domestic processes would be accepted. But “the wish was expressed that Switzerland would change its practice with regard to the re-export ban,” Amherd made clear.
Because Switzerland currently prohibits other countries from passing on weapons purchased in Switzerland to third parties. This practice has received a lot of criticism in recent weeks from other states that want to supply arms and ammunition to Ukraine from Switzerland.
Amherd pointed out that there was also much praise for Swiss support for Ukraine – for example through humanitarian supplies, demining training, financial aid and taking in Ukrainians. Switzerland was also thanked for its commitment to Kosovo as part of the NATO-led KFOR mission, according to the Federal Council. (SDA/dba)
Source:Blick
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