Switzerland wants to ease arms export rules
Kyiv • UNN
Switzerland is seeking to relax its arms export rules to allow exceptions in the interest of foreign policy or national security, but maintains a ban on arms sales to Ukraine.
The Swiss government is seeking to circumvent the country's strict neutrality to increase arms exports while maintaining a ban on arms supplies to Ukraine. This was reported by Bloomberg, according to UNN.
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The government will be able to lift arms export restrictions in exceptional circumstances and for a limited time if it is in the interests of Swiss foreign policy or national security
However, as noted, the government does not plan to use the exception to allow arms supplies to Ukraine. Switzerland has previously banned Germany, Spain and Denmark from sending Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine.
According to the Swiss government's website, the authorities have launched consultations on amendments to the War Material Act. The purpose of the consultations is to give the Federal Council the opportunity to adjust the policy of exporting military materials if necessary.
"The goal is to ensure the protection of fundamental foreign and security policy interests in the event of an emergency and thus to preserve the industrial potential at home, adapted to the needs of Swiss national defense," the statement said.
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Switzerland has a ban on arms sales to countries at war if they are not involved in hostilities under a UN mandate.