Switzerland’s neutrality questioned as it moves to join European Sky Shield Initiative

Switzerland plans to formalize its membership in the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), a move that aligns with the country’s neutrality due to the initiative’s procurement focus and specific wording.

Launched in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ESSI aims to enhance “international opportunities for cooperation” and coordinate purchases, training, and logistics for ground-based air-defense systems, according to the Swiss government.

Austria and Switzerland signed a letter of intent to join the initiative in July 2023, raising questions about their neutrality policies. However, Marcel Berni from ETH Zurich’s Strategic Studies Department argued that participation aligns with Switzerland’s security interests and does not conflict with its tradition of non-alignment. He emphasized that Switzerland lacks the capability to defend against ballistic missile attacks, making membership militarily sensible.

The Swiss Federal Department of Defense stated that Switzerland would retain control over its level of involvement in ESSI. Samantha Leiser, a spokeswoman for the military procurement agency Armasuisse, noted that Switzerland’s participation would focus on procurement coordination, training, and logistics without integrating into a ground-based air defense network.

ESSI aims to create a ground-based integrated European air defense system to counter ballistic missiles, feeding into NATO’s broader Integrated Air Defense System. Leiser added that the ESSI agreement includes a clause excluding participation in armed conflicts between states.

ESSI has grown from 15 to 21 participating states, with Greece and Türkiye announcing their intention to join in February. The nations now have two months to decide on Switzerland’s membership bid.