Historic turning point: Switzerland seeks proximity to the EU in security and defense matters – what does this mean for neutrality?

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Published on: September 16, 2025 / Updated on: September 16, 2025 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

Historic turning point: Switzerland seeks proximity to the EU in security and defense matters – what does this mean for neutrality?

Historic turning point: Switzerland seeks proximity to the EU on security and defense issues – what does this mean for neutrality? – Image: Xpert.Digital

Security before tradition: National Council decides on rapprochement with the EU – a taboo break?

PESCO and Defence Fund: What Switzerland really wants when it talks about EU security

At a time of growing geopolitical tensions, Switzerland has taken a historically significant step: The National Council, by a clear majority, has instructed the Federal Council to examine closer security and defense policy cooperation with the European Union. This initiative is a direct response to the fundamentally changed security situation in Europe, which is characterized by the war in Ukraine, hybrid threats such as cyberattacks, and increasing pressure from major powers.

At its core, it concerns potential participation in key EU initiatives such as the Permanent Structured Cooperation Programme (PESCO) and the European Defence Fund. Such a partnership would not only provide access to cutting-edge technology and joint research projects, but would also open new economic doors for the domestic arms industry. However, the decision is hotly contested domestically and has sparked a fundamental debate that touches on the country's identity: How can such a partnership be reconciled with Switzerland's traditional neutrality? Switzerland is thus facing a strategic challenge in which it must weigh the need for modern security cooperation against the risk of a loss of sovereignty – a decision that will significantly shape the future of its foreign and security policy.

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The decision of the National Council

The National Council has decided by a clear majority that Switzerland should intensify its dialogue with the European Union in the area of security and defense. At the heart of this political signal is the call to the Federal Council to initiate talks with the EU to explore a formal partnership in security and defense policy. The initiative came from the Security Policy Committee, which placed the issue on the agenda and received broad support. The next step is for the Federal Council, following initial bilateral discussions, to prepare a concrete negotiating mandate. This mandate will then be discussed in both the Security and Foreign Affairs Committees before any actual treaty negotiations begin.

Background: Why Switzerland is taking this step

The security situation in Europe has changed significantly in recent years. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, increasing geopolitical pressure from major powers such as China, and the heightened threat posed by hybrid threats such as cyberattacks and disinformation have had a significant impact on the European security order. Switzerland, too, seeks to redefine its position in this environment. As a neutral country, it has traditionally been reserved when it comes to military alliances or security cooperation. Nevertheless, Switzerland has established numerous partnerships with international organizations over the past decades, including the Partnership for Peace (PfP) with NATO and its close cooperation with the United Nations. Now, the focus is increasingly on the European Union, which has been systematically expanding its security and defense policy capacities for years.

Participation in European security programs would enable Switzerland to contribute to initiatives for arms cooperation, research, and technological development. In particular, participation in the so-called "Permanent Structured Cooperation" (PESCO) or the "European Defence Fund" offers the prospect of contributing to complex projects without having to be a member of the European Union.

Overview of European defense initiatives

Since 2017, the European Union has created PESCO, a framework that allows member states to pool their military capabilities, launch joint projects, and harmonize procurement structures. Dozens of projects are already underway, ranging from cyber defense to joint logistics. Parallel to this, the European Defence Fund (EDF) was launched, which provides billions of euros in funding for research and development in the arms sector. The fund supports projects aimed at developing new drone technologies, secure communications infrastructure, and military artificial intelligence, among others.

For third countries seeking closer ties with the EU, there is the option of associated participation in exceptional cases. For example, Norway is included in some programs even though it is not a member of the Union. Switzerland now also wants to explore this option – with the aim of better utilizing its own industrial capacities and benefiting from technology transfer.

The role of the Swiss arms industry

An important aspect of the discussion is the industrial dimension. Switzerland has a competitive defense industry, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to specialized technology companies and internationally active corporations. Swiss companies are strongly represented in fields such as precision optics, special vehicles, drone technology, and communications systems. However, their access to European tenders has so far been limited, as the EU tends to favor its own member states. With an official security agreement, this situation could fundamentally change.

Inclusion in the European Defence Fund would not only bring technological advantages but also boost export opportunities for Swiss companies. At the same time, Switzerland would integrate into a more coordinated European defence industry, which is increasingly shaped by issues of resilience, supply chain stability, and joint innovation strategies.

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Neutrality and European security

Perhaps the most sensitive point in the domestic political debate is the question of how closer security and defense policy ties with the EU fit with Swiss neutrality. Opponents of such a partnership warn that Switzerland could abandon its traditional reserve and be drawn into military conflicts. Proponents, however, argue that such an agreement is not about an alliance commitment in the military sense, but rather about cooperation in genuinely defensive and technologically oriented areas. These include cyber defense, crisis prevention, disaster protection, and joint training and education platforms.

Switzerland is thus facing a strategic challenge. On the one hand, it must protect its neutrality and maintain it as a credible feature of its foreign and security policy. On the other hand, it cannot face the new threats entirely alone and needs functioning partnerships. Balancing these two aspects is at the heart of the current debate.

EU security policy interests

From the perspective of the European Union, closer integration of Switzerland is also of interest. Switzerland is centrally located on the European continent, boasts high-quality infrastructure, and is economically closely integrated into the internal market. Furthermore, it is a stable security player with decades of experience in international peacekeeping missions and diplomacy.

An EU that wants to expand its defense structures is interested in having competent partners on board. Swiss capabilities could be of great value to the EU, particularly in areas such as logistics, cybersecurity, research and development, and training cooperation.

Parliamentary debates and domestic political dynamics

In the National Council, advocates of security policy convergence with the EU made their voices clear. They emphasized that Switzerland could not stand on the sidelines while Europe reorients its defenses. Especially after the war in Ukraine, it had become clear that stand-alone national structures were insufficient to respond to complex threats.

Opponents in Parliament, however, argued with the potential loss of independence and the danger of a kind of security-policy accession to the EU emerging through the back door. They also criticized the fact that the exact scope of such a partnership was not yet known and that one should not allow oneself to become dependent.

Historical development of Swiss security policy

A look back shows that Switzerland has always taken a pragmatic approach to security policy. During the Cold War, it invested heavily in national defense and maintained its strict neutrality. After the end of the East-West conflict, the country increasingly opened up to cooperation and, among other things, joined the NATO Partnership for Peace. Participation in UN civilian and military missions has also been continuously expanded.

The current debate thus builds on an existing tradition of defining security in an increasingly interconnected world not solely but through dialogue with partners. The crucial difference, however, is that the EU has now developed its own security and defense policy identity that goes far beyond mere coordination.

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Opportunities and risks of a partnership

Close cooperation with the EU can open up numerous opportunities for Switzerland: access to research projects, improved information exchange in the field of threat analysis, expanded training opportunities, stronger industrial integration, and, last but not least, a security policy standing at the European level.

On the other hand, there are risks that are particularly politically sensitive: possible restrictions on neutrality, dependence on EU structures, or increased domestic political polarization. Added to this is the question of the extent to which Switzerland will actually gain access to EU programs. While there are precedents with Norway and Great Britain (as a third country after Brexit), each model is regulated differently and requires complex negotiations.

The way forward

The Federal Council now faces the task of implementing the National Council's political mandate and initiating a structured process with the EU. The first step will be to clarify the framework conditions: Which programs are eligible, how far-reaching is participation, what financial contributions are required, and what political obligations will arise?

At the same time, Swiss domestic politics must continue the discourse. The population will have to prepare for an intense debate, as security policy issues in Switzerland are always closely linked to the question of neutrality. A potential agreement could therefore ultimately be put to a vote by the people, which makes the negotiations even more complex.

Security in a connected future

European security policy is undergoing a fundamental transformation. While NATO continues to form the backbone of military defense, the EU is seeking to strengthen its role as a security policy actor. This opens up new opportunities for Switzerland to find its place in the European order.

The decisive factor will be whether it is possible to define a partnership that both meets the needs of cooperation and respects the specifics of Swiss neutrality. Only by striking this balance can Switzerland find a sustainable solution.

A security partnership agreement with the EU promises to integrate Switzerland more closely into European cooperation without sacrificing its independence. Whether this promise can be fulfilled will be determined by the political debate of the coming years – a debate whose urgency is almost unmatched given the current global political situation.

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