Swiss president supports lifting re‑export ban on arms to Ukraine
The Swiss president stated that she supports changing the ban preventing the re-export of Swiss weapons to Ukraine. She mentioned that such restrictions are beginning to visibly harm the Swiss arms industry and, consequently, her country's security.
"I believe we need to take a step forward for our industry. The situation is becoming difficult because countries like the Netherlands have decided not to buy weapons from Switzerland due to the lack of free re-export. If we have a problem with our arms industry, it means we also have a problem with security, as it is important to have technology and know-how," said Viola Amherd, quoted by Reuters.
Will Switzerland change its approach to weapon re-export?
Reuters reminds us that Switzerland, despite its long-standing neutrality, is a significant arms supplier. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, in 2022, it ranked 14th in the world in terms of the quantity of military goods sold.
In 2023, the sale of Swiss weapons decreased, largely due to Switzerland’s neutral stance, where the authorities not only did not help Ukraine directly but also blocked some assistance planned by other countries.
Blocked transfer of Leopard 1A5 tanks
The issue of nearly one hundred Leopard 1A5 tanks stored by the RUAG company in Italy caused significant waves. The idea was to sell them to Germany, where they could then be transferred to Ukraine. The Swiss government initially blocked this transaction and later investigated RUAG's activities.
The Leopard 1A5 is a tank from the 1990s, representing the last serial modernization of the Leopard 1. Many of these machines have reached Ukraine thanks to the efforts of Western allies. Although they are inferior to newer tanks, they still offer more than even older Soviet-era vehicles. The potential transfer of about 100 additional units was seen as a significant reinforcement for Ukraine.
An important feature of the Leopard 1A5 tank is the EMES 18 fire control system with a thermal sight, based on the EMES 15 system from the first variants of the Leopard 2 tank. Ukrainian soldiers claim that the Leopard 1A5 is noticeably better than, for example, the T-62 or T-72. It is also equipped with a rifled 105 mm cannon and an engine that allows the crew to accelerate to about 65 km/h on hard surfaces and about 40 km/h off-road.
Viola Amherd stated that Switzerland must invest more in security throughout Europe and intends to strengthen ties with partners, including NATO, for this purpose. However, she emphasized that Switzerland, which acts as a peace mediator in global conflicts, does not and will never deliver weapons directly to any country in a state of war.
