Swiss voters to decide November 29 on easing arms export curbs

Switzerland follows the 1907 Hague Conventions on neutrality, which prevent it participating in armed conflicts unless directly threatened, or providing military support to any of the parties. That stance largely held throughout the Cold War but has begun to change since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted Switzerland to deepen defense ties with European partners and the NATO alliance.

The amendment is intended to allow arms shipments to 36 Western countries, even if they are involved in active armed conflicts, though not for use in those conflicts. Ukraine is not included. It also scraps a requirement for countries to sign a non-re-export declaration upon purchase. The change would not apply to weaponry bought on the previous terms, or bought with the intention of immediately sending it to a third party, thus still excluding Ukraine.

Bern had blocked several countries from sending previously purchased Swiss-made ammunition and combat vehicles to Ukraine, and Germany subsequently excluded Swiss firms from procurement deals, while Denmark and the Netherlands halted orders.

Polls suggest the referendum, proposed by a coalition of left-wing parties including Social Democrats, the Greens and others, could go either way. Some right-wingers have also split from the Swiss People's Party to oppose the amendment, which cannot come into force until the referendum is held.

Fabian Molina, a lawmaker for the Social Democrats, said: "In future, Swiss war material could in certain cases be passed to belligerent states. That would violate neutrality." Centre Party lawmaker Reto Nause said the law needed an overhaul to reflect a more dangerous international environment, saying: "We're facing a level of threat we haven't seen since the Second World War." He said the non-re-export declaration would deter NATO countries from buying Swiss armaments because they wanted to be able to share weapons if the alliance was attacked.

The affected manufacturers include Germany's Rheinmetall, which builds anti-drone defense systems in Switzerland, French defense group Thales, small-arms maker SIG Sauer, and more than 100 other companies. Switzerland was the world's 17th-largest arms exporter over the past 10 years, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The sector employs 14,000 people and last year its exports were worth around $1.15 billion.

Matthias Zoller, general secretary of the Swiss Aeronautics, Security and Defence Association, said: "This is decisive, it's really 'go' or 'no go' for the future of the Swiss arms industry." He said manufacturers could move abroad if exports were excessively restricted, and that Switzerland could expect to go to the back of the line for buying new systems or components from other countries. Supporters say there are another 154,000 jobs in companies making dual-use products for military or civilian purposes.

Green Party lawmaker Gerhard Andrey said ceding control of where Swiss arms go was "not a neutral choice", and noted exports were just below record level last year despite the restrictions. Mirjam Hostetmann, leader of the youth wing of the Social Democrats, said relaxing the law could lead to Swiss weapons increasingly being used in civil wars or by rogue governments, saying: "It's an illusion to believe that more weapons will guarantee more peace."