01/27/2026, 07:2601/27/2026, 07:26
According to the German ambassador in Bern, Markus Potzel, the easing of arms exports decided by parliament in the winter session will change little for Germany. Because of the Federal Council’s planned right of veto, there is still a lack of planning security, as he said.
Markus Potzel is the German ambassador to Switzerland.Image: DPA
How the Federal Council would exercise the right of veto is unclear today, Potzel said in an interview with the “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” on Tuesday and added: “Berlin therefore still has no guarantee that it can really freely dispose of the weapons it has purchased from Switzerland.”
According to Potzel, especially in dangerous times, a state needs to be able to plan war material. “It is even more important that we continue to receive supplies when we need it most,” said the German ambassador. It was a decision for Germany to be able to freely dispose of the purchased war material.
If Germany supports other member states militarily in a NATO alliance, it would no longer be allowed to be supplied with weapons by Switzerland for reasons of neutrality. “That’s why we’re seeing more and more Swiss defense companies building up production capacities in Germany and other friendly countries,” said Potzel. In this way, the companies would circumvent the restrictions imposed by war material and neutrality laws.
Easing is controversial domestically
The bourgeois majority rushed to the aid of the Swiss arms industry in the winter session. Today it is forbidden to export Swiss war material to countries involved in internal or international conflicts. With the new bill, Swiss defense companies will in future also be able to supply war material to 25 Western countries if they are in an armed conflict. The Federal Council should be given the right to veto.
An alliance of SP, Greens, EPP, army opponents and NGOs launched a referendum against the proposal at the beginning of January. Among other things, she defends herself against the Federal Council’s veto right. “The Federal Council will be the sole bouncer – and the door is wide open,” said Bernese EPP National Councilor Marc Jost to the media at the launch. (sda)