Defense Swiss Armed Forces should continue to take part in NATO exercises

According to the Council of States, the Swiss Armed Forces should still be able to take part in NATO alliance exercises. On Wednesday, the small chamber rejected a proposal for a ban on such exercises that was adopted by the National Council in the summer.

29 Council members voted against the motion, twelve in favor. The small chamber thus followed its Security Policy Committee (SIK-S), which had previously recommended the motion of its sister committee in the National Council be rejected without a dissenting vote.

The rejection by the Council of States means that the matter is off the table. The vote was preceded by a lively discussion about Switzerland's cooperation with the defense alliance and its compatibility with Swiss neutrality. Individual representatives of the SVP and FDP spoke out in favor of accepting the motion.

In the summer session, the National Council adopted the motion of its Security Policy Committee (SIK-N). This wanted to ban the army from such NATO alliance training.