Ex-ambassador in Kiev Claude Wild warns against “neutrality fetishism”

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Former Swiss ambassador to Ukraine Claude Wild (59) was critical on Monday about the ban on Swiss-made weapons being passed on to Ukraine.

In his view, Switzerland should take its own security interests into account when making the decision, Wild, who until recently worked as the Swiss ambassador in Kiev, told the Tele-Zuri program “Talk daily”.

Switzerland is accused of indirectly supporting the aggressor

According to Wild, it is well understood in Ukraine that Switzerland cannot be part of a military alliance or supply arms directly. On the other hand, it is “very difficult to explain” that the country also blocks indirect arms transfers.

“One can also question whether this is in Switzerland’s security interest,” the diplomat added. Because neutrality does not mean indirectly supporting the aggressor. This is exactly what Switzerland is being accused of.

Ultimately, neutrality must serve Switzerland’s values ​​and security, Wild argued: “We have no interest in becoming useful idiots to an aggressor.” Rather, it is in the country’s security interest that Ukraine can push back the attacker. Switzerland must be careful not to fall into a “neutrality fetish”.

The background to the discussion are requests from, among others, Spain, Germany and Denmark to be allowed to pass on weapons manufactured in Switzerland to Kiev. The Bundesrat has always rejected this – citing the law of neutrality and the provisions of the War Material Act.

Two attempts to relax re-export regulations failed

Under current law, when purchasing weapons manufactured in Switzerland, states must make a statement that they will only pass them on with the consent of the Swiss Confederation. The transfer of arms to belligerent states is not subject to approval.

Two initiatives calling for a relaxation of re-export regulations failed during the spring session of Parliament. Various parliamentary initiatives in this regard are still pending.

In the future, Wild will be Switzerland’s permanent representative to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. In mid-March, the Federal Council appointed Félix Baumann, formerly Ambassador to the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, based in Kiev. (SDA)

Source:Blick