Switzerland may reconsider its position on blocking arms supplies to Ukraine

The lower house of the Swiss parliament -- the National Council -- will consider changing the law on arms exports, which may allow indirect deliveries to Ukraine.

That's according to the Swiss news outlet Blick, Ukrinform reports.

According to the report, on Tuesday, the National Council's Security Policy Commission (SiK) surprised everyone with a new proposal: Switzerland wants to supply Ukraine with weapons indirectly after all. The majority of the commission wants to change the War Material Act, which has so far prevented such re-exports, accordingly. To this end, it is submitting a draft law to the National Council.

The majority of the Commission proposes relaxing the non-re-export ban for countries that have similar export control mechanisms to Switzerland and share similar values with Switzerland. Specifically, these are the states listed in Annex 2 to the War Material Act. The non-re-export declaration for exports is to be limited to five years for these selected countries.

The material may only be passed on from the receiving country to a third country if the latter meets certain conditions. In particular, it must not seriously and systematically violate human rights. There must also be no risk that the military equipment from Switzerland will be used against the civilian population in the third country.

If the third country is involved in an armed conflict, re-export is permitted if the country exercises its right to self-defense under international law and the UN Security Council has found a violation of the international prohibition of the use of force under the UN Charter. According to the SiK, the purchasing countries should decide whether war material is passed on.

The article notes that Switzerland had not made any friends in the West. First, Germany was not allowed to supply Swiss-made ammunition to Ukraine, and Denmark was not allowed to pass on wheeled infantry fighting vehicles. Then the Federal Council refused to return 96 Leopard 1 tanks to the German manufacturer Rheinmetall. And Spain was not allowed to pass on anti-aircraft guns to Kyiv.

However, it is not clear whether the majority at the plenary session of the National Council and the Federal Council will support the Commission's decision.

The issue was considered in fact immediately after the first Peace Summit, which was held in the Swiss resort of Burgenstock.