Donald Trump is a shock that pushes a neutral Swiss to search for closer defense relationships

Just two months ago, the new defense minister in Switzerland was seen as an external opportunity to secure the position of federal government.

However NATO The European Union’s neighbors, to take office next month after defeating a more conservative competitor earlier this week.

Cooperation and joint training exercises with NATO, which Switzerland Winster said last month that he was not a member, he was “very necessary” Europe’s security.

Its date highlights the extent of Switzerland’s neutral feeling until the urgency to strengthen its defense, as US President Donald Trump threatens to relax the American guarantees that have long been supporting the security of the continent – the nation of the Alps.

At a press conference after voting on Thursday, PFiste said that NATO “changes, we do not know in any direction.” He added that the inter -employment and cooperation with European countries were accountable “if security was important to us.”

Any transformation in the position of neutrality in Switzerland requires a referendum and constitutional changes – a process that may take years.

But the discussions began to take place at several levels of the government that can lead to a major shift in a country whose identity is deeply intertwined with neutrality, according to experts.

“I have never seen a scenario depicting the situation in which we are.”

“In the Atlantic relations, there was up and down, but the United States showed a potential disengagement from Europe as well as the bias of Russia. It was sent a shock across Europe, including Switzerland.”

A similar view is placed by Matthias Zoller, Secretary -General of the Department of Aviation, Security and Defense in Swimmim, Industry Group and Lobby Group.

“There is a feeling of urgency that was not there,” Zuller said. “Finally, both sides – parliament as well as the government – see that there is something to do and change.”

General feelings turned towards more security cooperation with European neighbors, according to a study published last summer by the Military Academy at ETH Zurich and the Security Studies Center.

The study found that 53 percent of the respondents supported closer relationships with NATO-while an average of 10 years in this question hovering about 43 percent. Only 30 percent wanted to join the alliance, but that was still higher than an average of 10 years of 23 percent.

Zoler, who attended a hearing with Weester before his appointment, said that the new defense minister “realizes that everything we need to cooperate with our neighbors.”

One of the early tasks of PFiste is after taking over on April 1 to help formulate the first national security strategy, which can appear by summer.

Daniel Mukly, who runs the CSS thought tank in ETH Zurich, which is partially funded by the Ministry of Defense, said that discussions on the security strategy “will be offered with an urgent sense of urgency, which is good.”

“The official security draft strategy will be the first of its kind and will determine our goals. It must give an idea of ​​the place where the government wants to take the country.”

Also under consideration are the changes in export regulations. Bern is prohibited from arms exports if the destination country is involved in any wars, at home or abroad, including Ukraine.

The rules were a source of discontent in Europe, especially for countries such as Germany, which were not allowed to re -export Swiss arms to Ukraine.

It can change under PFister.

“Martin in Vastter stressed that he will fight to relax the export restrictions on the materials and regulations of the Swiss war,” said Stefan Holinstein, a colonel at the Swiss Army General Staff, who heads the Association of Military Communities.

Earlier this month, Holinstein and his competing candidate, Marcus Rierter, President of the Swiss farmers, called for a hearing with the representatives of the Military and Defense Industry in Bern.

While Switzerland means permanent armed neutrality, Holinstein said: “For us and also Martin, this does not mean, and this is confirmed, this does not mean strict isolation or lack of strict cooperation in the structure of European security.”

Holinstein said that the increase in the army budget and the construction of the Swiss arms industry was the other expectations of the military industry.

Switzerland aims to reach 1 percent of GDP spent on defense by 2030 from 0.7 percent last year. This is much lower than the goals of other European countries: The spending goal is expected by 2 percent to 3 percent to 3 percent or 3.5 percent at a summit in June, while Trump insisted that European allies have paid 5 percent of GDP.

Holinstein said that the expansion of the interconnection of the armed forces should also be possible, pointing to the Swiss soldiers next month heading to Austria – which is also a neutral country – to train with the Austrian and German forces. It will be the first military maneuvers in Switzerland on foreign soil since 2003.

But despite all the clear momentum in Switzerland, with the accelerated by EuropeanOthers warned that any change in the strategy may take years.

There are also strong forces that want to see neutrality. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Switzerland adopted similar sanctions with the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States. However, activists and some right -wing politicians have since tried to compel the end of economic restrictions by defining the country’s long neutrality in the constitution.

“You have tremendous differences even between the Council in the Federal Council, not to mention the parliament and the public, towards Switzerland in the future. It is always related to finding consensus in opinions here and we are far from that,” said a Swiss official.

“I will not hold my breath for big changes this year or until next year.”