Switzerland has announced that it will not issue licences for companies to export weapons to the United States due to the ongoing war on Iran, citing the country’s longstanding principle of neutrality.
The export of war materiel to countries involved in the international armed conflict with Iran cannot be authorised for the duration of the conflict, the Swiss government said in a statement, adding that exports of war materiel to the USA cannot currently be authorised.
Neutrality Law
A Swiss federal act, approved in 1996, stipulates that the import, export and transit of war materiel and related technology require export licences based on the principles of human rights and neutrality. Since the Iran war began on 28 February, Switzerland said no new export licences were issued to the US.
The government also noted that no definitive licences for exports of war materiel to Israel have been granted for several years, and the same applies to Iran. Existing US licences will now face regular review by a group of experts to assess whether steps are required under the neutrality law.
Impact on Global Energy Prices
The US was the second-largest importer of Swiss arms last year, according to government data, with sales worth $119m (94.2 million francs). The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has sent global energy prices soaring, with the International Energy Agency warning of a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Some of the key points to note about the Swiss decision include:
- The export ban will be in place for the duration of the conflict
- No new export licences will be issued to the US
- Existing US licences will be regularly reviewed
- The ban also applies to dual-use and specific military goods
The Swiss government had previously blocked allied nations from sending Swiss-made equipment to Ukraine, which is fighting a Russian invasion that began in 2022. Following the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Switzerland imposed bans on flights over Swiss airspace and weapons exports to countries involved in the war, but later lifted them.
