Switzerland will temporarily halt exports linked to new US orders for arms and ammunition, citing its tradition of neutrality amid the war in Iran.
The government said on Friday, “Exports of war materiel to the US cannot currently be authorised,” pointing to US involvement in the “international armed conflict” in the Middle East.
In a statement, it noted that “since the escalation of the conflict on 28 February, no new licences have been issued for exports of war materiel to the US.”
Switzerland’s strict neutrality rules have already led it to close its airspace to US military flights directly linked to the Iran war. Bern stated that American overflights exceeding normal numbers would be denied unless their purpose was clear and unrelated to the conflict.
US was the second-largest importer of Swiss arms last year, receiving roughly 10 percent of shipments. Those sales, worth 94.2 million francs ($119 million), consisted mainly of aerial vehicles, ammunition and handguns, according to Swiss government data.
The government added, “Existing licences have been determined to be of no relevance to the war at present and can therefore continue to be used. Nevertheless, an interdepartmental expert group will regularly review developments in exports of the goods in question to the US and assess whether any action is required under neutrality law.”
Bern added that exports of dual-use and specific military goods subject to the Goods Control Act, as well as of non-controlled goods that are nevertheless affected by sanctions against Iran, will also be regularly reviewed by the expert group from now on, noting that a restrictive approach is already in place with regard to Israel.
Switzerland’s neutrality stance has consistently posed challenges for its arms producers. The government has blocked allied nations from sending Swiss-made equipment to Ukraine, meaning local manufacturers missed out on a wave of orders as Europe rearmed following Russia’s invasion.
Fearing exclusion from European supply chains, some Swiss companies shifted production abroad to circumvent the rules.
In response, lawmakers softened an underlying law in December, planning to allow exports to a defined group of 25 mostly Western countries – including the US – even if they are involved in a conflict.
However, the change has not yet taken effect, as under Switzerland’s system of direct democracy, the bill can still be challenged in a referendum if enough signatures are collected by mid-April.
