Germany and Austria’s decision to join a European air defense umbrella has led neutral Switzerland to consider doing the same, despite critics who say it would be incompatible with the country’s long-standing tradition of neutrality. The Swiss government said on Tuesday that it plans to sign a declaration of intent to join the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) during a meeting with its German and Austrian counterparts this week.
The ESSI intends to boost Europe’s air defense by bundling the continent’s efforts in this area, thereby cutting procurement costs. The project also aims to promote research and development cooperation in air defense. Germany spearheads the initiative and brings together 17 countries, including non-NATO allies such as Britain, Finland, and Sweden. It has become an issue of growing concern since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the Alpine nation has come under pressure from European neighbors to support Kyiv militarily. But Bern has resisted this, even going as far as last week to reject a request by the Swiss defense firm RUAG to re-export 96 Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks of German manufacture for use in Ukraine.
Amid heightened tensions, however, the government decided to reassess its policy of neutrality. It believes that in the current geopolitical context, the country can no longer afford to ignore the risks posed by Russian expansionism and must actively contribute to efforts to improve regional security. Its participation in a project like the ESSI will do this while maintaining its commitment to neutrality and avoiding military conflicts, the government says.
The decision to join ESSI will allow Switzerland to take advantage of other participants’ collective capabilities and benefit from its own advanced weapons systems and expert personnel. Moreover, it will help the country understand regional developments better and thus increase its readiness to respond to potential threats. It is also expected to strengthen the trust and cooperation between European nations.
On his first visit to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion, German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht promised on Saturday that a state-of-the-art air defense system, the Iris-T SLM, would be delivered to Kyiv within days. The system is intended to help Ukraine repel Russian missile attacks from the east.
The trip by the two top NATO allies was the latest in a series of visits to the country to deliver military aid, which has come under intensified pressure from Russia following its annexation of Crimea. In a telephone conversation on Sunday, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden condemned Moscow’s actions in Ukraine. They reiterated their call for allies to unite behind sanctions against the country. They also emphasized that any targeted disruptions of crucial infrastructure projects in Ukraine must meet united responses from the international community.
