The guests in the “Arena” (from left to right): Roland Rino Büchel, Petra Gössi, presenter Mario Grossniklaus, Gerhard Pfister and Jon Pult. Image: screenshot srf
Review
Should Switzerland “muddle through” its foreign policy? The controversial statement by Foreign Minister Cassis and Trump’s image of Jesus are causing discussions in the “Arena”.
April 18, 2026, 02:52April 18, 2026, 02:59
“We have to see how we can muddle through this troubled world.”
This sentence comes from Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. In an interview with “Switzerland at the Weekend” he spoke about how Switzerland should navigate through an uncertain world situation. Cassis’ statement has since been made controversially discussed.
In the “Arena” on Friday evening, three foreign policy experts and one foreign policy expert addressed the question: Which path should Switzerland choose in the face of international conflicts and violations of international law? “Muddle through” or take a stand? Guests of presenter Mario Grossniklaus were:
- Jon Pult, Vice President SP and National Councilor SP/GR
- Petra Gössi, Councilor of States FDP/SZ
- Gerhard Pfister, National Councilor Die Mitte/ZG
- Roland Rino Büchel, National Councilor SVP/SG
Sebastian Ramspeck, international correspondent for SRF, was also in the studio.
A statement leads to a fundamental question
The discussion started with a picture: it shows a AI-generated Donald Trump as a Jesus-like figure – the US President later claimed it showed him as a doctor. He has since deleted the picture.
Image: www.imago-images.de
“What does this picture do to you as a Catholic?” asked Mario Grossniklaus, addressing the centrist National Councilor and former party president Gerhard Pfister. Pfister responded less as a Catholic than as a politician. The picture shows Trump’s self-assessment: “He thinks he is godlike and all-powerful and that no institutions or rules are needed.” According to Pfister, nothing good can be expected from this president and his government at the moment.
With this image interpretation the group had arrived at the heart of the evening’s theme. How should Switzerland behave when “big states flex their muscles,” as Grossniklaus put it, and when former law enforcement officers like the USA question the rules themselves?
SVP National Councilor Roland Rino Büchel was of the opinion that official Switzerland did not have to comment on every misstep or statement made by Trump, as he could change his mind again half an hour later. Büchel therefore suggested:
“Let’s let it pass and not jump into everything.”
Roland Rino Büchel, SVP
SP National Councilor Jon Pult did not see “muddling through” as a response to the uncertain world situation as a problem – as long as it served foreign policy goals. “You have to be pragmatic in your method.” However, he gave the Federal Council a bad report: “The Federal Council does not make it clear what the goals are.” He must defend institutions such as international law.
“I’m not interested in the Federal Council commenting on everything. But it’s about following a clear line and communicating it clearly.”
Jon Pult, SP
Petra Gössi, Councilor of States and former party leader of the FDP, objected: “If you say what Switzerland stands for, actions must follow.” According to Gössi, the USA or the mullahs in Iran would hardly be interested in Switzerland’s pure positioning. The Vice President of the Foreign Policy Commission also defended herself against Pult’s accusation that the FDP Federal Councilor Cassis was not pursuing a strategy. “The Federal Council defines the goals. You just have to be interested and know them.”
Defended the foreign policy of FDP Federal Councilor Ignazio Cassis. Image: screenshot srf
Pfister viewed Cassis’s “muddling through” statement as less positive than Gössi, who tried to defend her Federal Councilor. “Our foreign minister should provide guidance.” He considers the choice of words to be problematic and not worthy of Swiss foreign policy. The Foreign Minister must show where Switzerland stands and what its interests are – “and these are not just economic interests,” added Pfister. Pfister also saw Cassis’ statement as a disavowal of Federal Councilor Karin Keller-Sutter. She was one of the few politicians who dared to stand up to Trump. “I think that’s the opposite of muddling through.”
Pfister criticizes Cassis for his “muddling through” statement:
Video: srf
The cards are reshuffled
Yes, what does Switzerland stand for? And what is their role in a world where the law of the strongest increasingly prevails? A short history lesson followed. An explanatory video showed how the world order has changed since the Second World War – and how the current geopolitical situation could arise.
This is how the world order changed after the Second World War:
Video: srf
Sebastian Ramspeck, international correspondent for SRF, said: Because the USA is withdrawing as a regulatory power and Europe is repositioning itself, the pressure is growing on countries like Switzerland to position themselves.
«The cards are being reshuffled. Everyone has to be careful that they draw a good card at the end.”
Sebastian Ramspeck, international correspondent SRF
For SVP National Councilor Roland Rino Büchel it was clear: Switzerland should not take one side. The danger is too great that it will suddenly become a target of major powers. But that doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be active in foreign policy. “I’m a fan of good services.” However, it is important to him that Switzerland acts cautiously. With the SVP’s neutrality initiative, which will be voted on in the fall, this would be written into the constitution. Switzerland would then no longer be allowed to take or support sanctions against warmongering countries, with the exception of those from the UN.
Then Gerhard Pfister took Büchel to task and asked him about his party colleagues who had publicly spoken out in favor of Putin or Orban. “You are not as razor-sharply neutral as you demand in your initiative,” he accused Büchel.
Büchel defended himself: He didn’t care how individual parliamentarians expressed themselves. He only cares about the Federal Council, which should hold back.
Pfister accuses Büchel of double standards:
Video: srf
What’s next with the good services?
Finally, it was about what Switzerland likes to boast about and what it is associated with around the world: its neutrality and good offices. And because the latter are hardly in demand in the major conflicts of today. Where is there room for Switzerland if superpowers like the USA prefer to negotiate themselves or if other countries take on this task?
There was broad agreement in the group that Switzerland does not have to negotiate in all conflicts. “Switzerland cannot save the whole world,” said Petra Gössi. Pult was of the opinion that Switzerland should increase its involvement in other regions, such as the Western Balkans or Turkey. Switzerland could also spread its good offices more broadly. For example, according to Pult, Switzerland should have strengthened Iranian civil society and thus the opposition before the Iran war.
“Perhaps we don’t mediate in the really big conflicts. But there are plenty of other conflicts in which Switzerland could take a more active role.”
Jon Pult, SP
Pult makes suggestions for the good offices of Switzerland:
Video: srf
Gerhard Pfister meanwhile called for Switzerland to give up its protective power mandate in Iran. Otherwise, she runs the risk of being perceived as representing US interests. “In Iran these are no longer good services, but rather bad services to the Iranian people.”
He ensured order in the geopolitical jungle: Sebastian Ramspeck.Image: screenshot srf
The last word was given to Ramspeck, who keeps an eye on world events for SRF. Moderator Mario Grossniklaus wanted to know from him: What direction is the uncertain world situation going? “Already heading in the direction of even more uncertainty,” was Ramspeck’s sobering answer. In addition to the armed conflicts, there are other challenges that are likely to generate even more tensions: declining birth rates, migration, climate change, artificial intelligence. The good news, however, is that the economy is doing well worldwide.