The Swiss ambassador to Germany on Monday defended Bern’s refusal to re-export Swiss-made ammunition to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Switzerland has decided to renounce the use of military force, notes Paul René Seger.
It represents the principle of neutrality. “With us, it’s part of the DNA,” he tells German newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine. “It also means we don’t support wars,” he adds.
The ambassador says he is surprised by the “level of criticism” of Switzerland. “We give the impression that Switzerland will be complicit if Putin wins the war. But 12,000 rounds will not affect the war, it will not determine the victory”.
Germany wants to export Swiss ammunition for Guepard anti-aircraft tank to Ukraine. However, Switzerland had to give its agreement to the re-export of munitions, which the German government had undertaken while ordering them not to send them to belligerent countries. Berlin delivered 34 of these tanks to Ukraine with 60,000 rounds of ammunition, but they were not enough.
Swiss President Alain Perset reaffirmed Switzerland’s refusal to re-export Swiss ammunition during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin last week. “We cannot ask them to break our own laws,” he said.
Free onbeperkt toegang tot Showbytes? That’s Gun!
Sign in to your Mac account.
“Total coffee junkie. Tv ninja. Unapologetic problem solver. Beer expert.”