Swiss Senate Wants To Make Arms Exports And Re-Exports Easier

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) The export of Swiss war materiel is to be made easier. On Wednesday, the Senate decided to give prior authorisation to applications from 25 Western countries. The Senate also wants to allow these countries to re-export Swiss equipment without authorisation. This content was published on June 11, 2025 - 13:45 3 minutes Keystone-SDA

• Français fr Le Conseil des Etats veut faciliter l'exportation d'armes Original Read more: Le Conseil des Etats veut faciliter l'exportation d'arme
• Русский ru Парламент Швейцарии упростит экспорт и реэкспорт оружия? Read more: Парламент Швейцарии упростит экспорт и реэкспорт оружия

In 2022, the counter-proposal to a popular initiative against arms exports to countries facing civil war, known as the“corrective initiative”, came into force. Currently, all sales are prohibited if a country is involved in a conflict or seriously violates human rights.

+Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox

Parliament wanted a more flexible approach, and the government proposed a time-limited derogation to allow exceptions to the authorisation criteria.

Swiss arms industry to be saved

But rightwing Senators want to go further. The defence technological and industrial base, which is important for Switzerland's security, must be maintained, said committee rapporteur Brigitte Häberli-Koller of the Centre party. Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark have made it clear that they will no longer place orders with Switzerland, which they consider not flexible enough.

More More Arms trade: Swiss neutrality as business strategy

This content was published on Apr 26, 2023 Switzerland's share of the international arms trade is small. But the idea of a neutral nation profiting from war has long been controversial.

Read more: Arms trade: Swiss neutrality as business strateg

MENAFN11062025000210011054ID1109662266