Swiss president backs easing weapon re‑export restrictions
The President of Switzerland expressed her support for lifting the ban on re-exporting Swiss weapons to Ukraine. She noted that such restrictions are starting to visibly harm the Swiss arms industry and, consequently, the security of Switzerland.
"Personally, I think we need to make a step forward for our industry. It becomes difficult because countries like the Netherlands have decided not to buy in Switzerland as it’s not free to re-export, which I understand. If we have a problem with our armaments industry, that means we also have a security problem because it’s important to have technology and know-how," said Viola Amherd, quoted by Reuters.
Will Switzerland change its approach to weapon re-export?
Reuters points out 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 regarding the quantity of military goods sold.
In 2023, the sale of Swiss weapons decreased, largely due to Switzerland’s neutral stance. The authorities not only refrained from helping Ukraine directly but also blocked some assistance planned by other countries.
Blocked transfer of Leopard 1A5 tanks
The situation surrounding nearly one hundred Leopard 1A5 tanks stored by the RUAG company in Italy attracted significant attention. A proposal was to sell them to Germany, where they could 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 series of upgrades to the Leopard 1. Thanks to the efforts of Western allies, many of these machines have reached Ukraine. Although they are inferior to newer tanks, they still offer more than even older Soviet-era vehicles of this type, and 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 initial 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 64 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 emphasised 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.
