In four dry sentences, the Swiss government announced what is probably the most controversial arms deal in recent years. “On September 23, 2022, the Federal Council reviewed and decided to approve an application for the export of approximately 6,000 ammunition rounds to Qatar,” the government wrote in a dry press release that day. It concerned missiles for the jet fighter Eurofighter.
Critics were annoyed. Fighter jet ammunition for the army of a country that violates human rights? An authoritarian emirate that funds Islamic terrorists. And that while Bern can’t even bring himself to help Ukraine with protective vests – and even forbids other countries to pass on Swiss-produced ammunition to Ukraine.
How is that possible? Internal documents from the federal administration now show what went on behind the scenes for the first time. Months of bickering preceded the approval. While Guy Parmelin’s Economics Department (EAER) pushed for the delivery, Secretary of State Ignazio Cassis resisted to the end. The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EDA) was categorically against the export.
The union hesitates
Based on the Public Information Act, SonntagsBlick has requested access to documents regarding Qatar’s decision. The federal government has long delayed the answer. Instead of the legal term of 20 days, it took almost four months before the editors were granted access.
At the heart of the interdepartmental dispute is a six-page position paper from the FDFA dated February 22, 2022. In it, the Department of International Security of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains in detail why Switzerland has stopped supplying fighter jet munitions to Qatar. The EDA experts relied on three main reasons:
- location in the interior of the emirate. The human rights situation in Qatar is unsatisfactory and the death penalty is still common. In addition, there is the mistreatment of migrant workers, massive curtailment of freedom of expression and severely curtailed rights for women and LGBTQ people.
- regional stability. The Gulf region is very unsafe, tensions can “escalate overnight”. If Switzerland supplies offensive war material, it could contribute to instability. Come on: Switzerland is committed to peace in the Gulf region. Therefore, the export is not compatible with their foreign policy strategy.
- principle of neutrality. The supply of munitions for combat aircraft is not compatible with Switzerland’s policy of neutrality. It cannot be ruled out that Qatar (as a former member of a military alliance; ed.) will again support operations in the war in Yemen. The FDFA says: “An export of offensive war material to a country that has been directly involved in regional conflicts in recent years and continues to support armed groups (…) could jeopardize Switzerland’s credibility as a neutral, humanitarian actor.”
Parmelin’s Ministry of Economic Affairs blocked State Department concerns. Barely two days after the FDFA took its position, the State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (Seco) submitted a request for reconsideration. “The Seco cannot follow the EDA’s reasoning,” the Parmelin folks wrote. The foreign service only speaks of “hypothetical risks”. A concrete, negative impact on stability in the region is “incomprehensible”.
What Seco already knew at the time: the Emirate of Qatar had become by far the most important purchaser of arms in Switzerland at the time. In the first three quarters of 2022, the Swiss arms industry delivered war material worth more than 210 million francs to the sheikhs – more than any other country in the world.
However, ordering jet ammunition was more delicate than previous deals. Previously, these were mainly defensive weapons, such as anti-aircraft guns.
In assessing the application, Seco secured the Federal Intelligence Service (NDB). In an analysis he came to the conclusion that there was no reason to believe that the ammunition would be used in the war in Yemen.
No “offensive war material”
In addition, the Ministry of Economic Affairs argued that it was wrong for the FDFA to describe the Eurofighter fighter jet and the ammunition for its guns as “offensive war material”. The weapons would also serve for defensive operations.
Apparently, SVP Federal Councilor Parmelin did not share the EDA’s concerns about neutrality either. Very different from the Ukraine, where he expressly refers to the issue of the ban on the transfer of Swiss ammunition by Germany. However, unlike Qatar, Ukraine is directly at war.
Either way, the EDA experts wouldn’t be convinced. On March 9, 2022, they again informed their leader, Ignazio Cassis, of the ongoing disagreement. They advised him to keep denying it, which he did. For this reason, the Bundesrat as a whole had to decide on the delivery – this is unusual in the case of war material exports. On September 23, 2023, the government gave the green light. Parmelin apparently managed to convince a majority of his colleagues about the arms deal.
On the same day, the federal government wrote in its dry media release, “After his [des Bundesrats] In my opinion, there are no compelling reasons for a ban on these exports.”
Weapons in unjust condition
The approval caused a shake of the head in parliament. And asked another question. According to the War Material Ordinance, Switzerland is not allowed to supply weapons to countries that systematically and seriously violate human rights. However, in 2019, the FDFA concluded in an internal analysis that Qatar is doing just that.
So has the federal government broken the law by supplying fighter jet ammunition? That is what SP council member Priska Seiler Graf wanted to know in a government interpellation. In its response, the Federal Council took the position that the 2019 EDA analysis was “inconclusive”. Although the situation in Qatar is still problematic, human rights violations can no longer be regarded as serious and systematic.
This answer is unsatisfactory to Seiler Graf. “It is quite bizarre to claim that human rights are no longer systematically and seriously violated in Qatar.” It is still clear to them: the export is in violation of the War Materials Act.
Do you have any clues for explosive stories? Write to us: [email protected]
Do you have any clues for explosive stories? Write to us: [email protected]
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
