Swiss arms exports fell by more than a quarter last year, the government announced today, with critics attributing the drop to the country’s neutral stance that prevents the re-export of Swiss-made arms and ammunition to the country. Ukraine.
Military exports fell 27 percent to 696.8 million Swiss francs ($788.06 million), the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said, compared to 955 million francs in 2022.
Despite a long stance of neutrality, Switzerland is a major arms supplier, ranking 14th globally in 2022; according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
In 2023, Switzerland exported munitions to 58 countries, up from 60 a year earlier, with Germany the biggest customer and Denmark a close second.
SECO did not give a reason for the decline in exports last year, but industry association Swissmem said a Swiss ban on arms re-exports played a role.
Based on the country’s neutrality law, Bern cannot approve requests to transfer Swiss-made military equipment to Ukraine while it is involved in an international armed conflict.
“Some companies have lost orders due to concerns about Swiss regulations while others are considering the case for smaller investments here,” Swissmem director Stefan Bruppacher told Reuters before the figures were released.
In 2022, Spain, Denmark and Germany were denied permission to re-export Swiss weaponry to Ukraine, straining relations and raising concerns in the Swiss arms industry.
Swissmem said the Swiss arms industry is dependent on exports and could not rely on demand from the Swiss military to survive.
Read also:
Telegraph: “German leaks on Ukraine are only the tip of the iceberg”
Kyrgyzstan: Back to uranium mining as Russia builds nuclear power plant
Switzerland: “Yes” to the 13th pension – “No” to the increase in the retirement limit!
NATO: Military high schools in Scandinavia with an eye on Russia
Cross-accusations between Moscow and Berlin after the leak of the officers’ conversation about Ukraine
#Switzerland #Exports #war #material #decreased #significantly #due #to.. #Ukraine
