Permanent neutrality is a principle of Swiss foreign policy. It serves to preserve Switzerland’s independence and the invulnerability of its national territory. In parallel, Switzerland undertakes not to take part in wars between other states.

In principle, neutrality is an obstacle neither to participation in economic sanctions nor to membership of international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) or the European Union (EU). Even military involvement in peace-keeping operations authorized by the UN or the parties to a conflict is compatible with neutrality. But Switzerland cannot become a member of a military alliance such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).