Switzerland’s century-old policy of neutrality is heading for a crucial test as the country prepares to vote on whether its weapons should be allowed to reach a wider group of western nations, even those involved in armed conflicts.The November 29 referendum has opened a battle between Switzerland’s defence industry, which wants greater access to international markets, and neutrality advocates who fear that easing export restrictions could compromise the country’s long-standing position as a neutral state.According to Reuters, the proposed amendments to Switzerland’s War Materiel Act would allow arms exports to 36 western countries, including the United States, European Union members and Japan, even when they are involved in armed conflicts, provided the weapons are not intended for use in those conflicts. Ukraine, however, would remain excluded from the arrangement.The proposed changes would also scrap the general requirement for countries purchasing Swiss weapons to sign declarations prohibiting their re-export to third countries without prior approval from Bern. The government could still demand such assurances on a case-by-case basis.Supporters of the amendment argue that these restrictions are hurting domestic manufacturers and weakening Switzerland’s position in Europe’s defence supply chains.Centre Party lawmaker Reto Nause said the legislation needed to reflect the deteriorating international security environment.“We’re facing a level of threat we haven’t seen since the Second World War,” Nause said, arguing that Switzerland needed to preserve its domestic arms production capacity and expertise in critical military technologies.The referendum has significant implications for Switzerland’s defence manufacturing sector, which employs around 14,000 people and exported military equipment worth approximately $1.15 billion in 2025, according to Reuters.Switzerland was the world’s 17th-largest arms exporter over the past decade, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.Matthias Zoller, general secretary of the Swiss Aeronautics, Security and Defence Association, described the referendum as decisive for the sector’s future.“This is decisive, it’s really ‘go’ or ‘no go’ for the future of the Swiss arms industry,” Zoller said.Why Swiss neutrality is at the centre of the debateOpponents of the proposed changes argue that easing export restrictions could undermine Switzerland’s traditional neutrality by allowing its weapons to reach countries involved in armed conflicts.Switzerland’s neutrality is rooted in the 1907 Hague Conventions, which prohibit neutral states from participating in armed conflicts and providing military support to belligerents. However, international neutrality law does not impose a blanket ban on arms exports. Switzerland’s existing restrictions are also based on domestic legislation that goes beyond the minimum requirements of international neutrality law.Mirjam Hostetmann, leader of the youth wing of the Social Democratic Party, which opposes the proposed changes, warned that relaxing export restrictions could increase the risk of Swiss weapons reaching civil wars and governments accused of violating international norms.“It’s an illusion to believe that more weapons will guarantee more peace,” she said, adding that the proposed changes would benefit the arms industry rather than the wider public.The referendum has exposed divisions across Switzerland’s political landscape. While the Social Democrats and Greens are leading opposition to the changes, the Swiss People’s Party, along with other centre-right parties, supports easing export restrictions. However, some SVP members have broken ranks to oppose the amendment, highlighting divisions within the right-wing camp.
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