Markus Somm: Swiss Neutrality at Risk After Ukraine War Sanctions

A prominent Swiss political commentator, Markus Somm, has expressed growing concern that a potential rejection of a neutrality initiative could irrevocably damage Switzerland’s longstanding neutral stance. The debate comes as Switzerland reconsiders its foreign policy in light of the war in Ukraine.

In a recent column published in Sonntagszeitung, titled “Neutrality Remains Our Contribution to the World,” Somm warned of a “total disaster” if the initiative is defeated. While Somm opposes the initiative itself – believing that a detailed definition of neutrality in the constitution could be detrimental – he has become increasingly critical of eroding neutral policies.

Somm argues that Swiss federal councils have historically managed neutrality effectively because they believed in it. He expressed skepticism about the future, stating, “If even the counter-proposal no longer finds a majority in parliament, according to which Swiss neutrality is ‘permanent’ and ‘armed,’ one can imagine how seriously the left and the center parties, including the FDP, take our neutrality.”

Somm’s concerns extend to the sanctions imposed on Russia, which he describes as “hardly neutral.” Despite his lack of sympathy for the Russian regime, he believes the sanctions, enacted at the urging of the United States, were a mistake. “Because, firstly, it has proven that Putin cannot be defeated with them and secondly, Switzerland unnecessarily jeopardized its long tradition of neutrality,” he wrote. This move, he added, has created “general confusion” within the country.

Somm previously acknowledged a break with Switzerland’s neutrality policy in March 2022, writing in Nebelspalter on August 22, 2022: “Of course, Switzerland has scratched its neutrality when the Federal Council decided to adopt the sanctions of the EU – and thus of the USA and the entire West. […] Switzerland had no choice. […] We did not allow this out of frivolity or weakness, but because we could not avoid it.”

The shift in Somm’s perspective is notable. He initially supported the move, stating Switzerland “had no choice,” but now suggests the Federal Council “unnecessarily jeopardized” the country’s neutral tradition. This evolving stance underscores the complex debate surrounding Switzerland’s future foreign policy. The discussion highlights a growing recognition, even among those who initially supported the sanctions, of the importance of maintaining a strong commitment to neutrality.