Published on 1 February 2026

Neutrality

Permanent neutrality is an instrument of Swiss foreign policy. It is a generating source of peace and stability in Europe and beyond. It ensures the country’s independence and the inviolability of its territory. According to the law of neutrality, Switzerland must not participate in a war between states.

Neutrality in the Federal Constitution

The Federal Constitution provides that the Federal Council and the Federal Assembly must take measures to safeguard Switzerland’s neutrality. As the Constitution’s authors intended, neutrality is not designated as a purpose of the Federation or as a foreign policy principle. It is represented as a means to an end.

The law of neutrality and the policy of neutrality

The law of neutrality which was codified in The Hague Conventions of 18 October 1907 and is part of international customary law, defines the rights and obligations of a neutral state. The most important of these rights is the inviolability of a neutral state’s territory. The main obligations are as follows:

• to refrain from participating in wars
• to treat all parties to the conflict equally with regard to the private export of military equipment
• to provide no military support to the parties to the conflict, e.g. prohibition on supplying war-related goods from state-owned stocks or hiring mercenaries
• to not make its territory available to the parties to the conflict

The law of neutrality applies to international conflicts but not to internal conflicts, which the majority of conflicts currently represent. The law of neutrality does not apply to a military operation authorized by the United Nations (UN) Security Council, for the latter is acting under a mandate from the community of states in order to re-establish peace and international security. Nor does the law on neutrality prevent neutral states from supporting such operations.

Policy of neutrality refers to the entirety of the measures that a neutral state undertakes on its own initiative to ensure the predictability and credibility of its permanent neutrality. The implementation of neutrality policy depends on an analysis of the current international environment.

Link

• Convention concerning the Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers in Case of War at Sea (de, fr, it)
• Convention concerning the Rights and Duties of Powers and Neutral Persons in Case of War on Land (de, fr, it)

Documenti

• Brochure: Swiss neutrality

  PDF546.64 kB3 March 2022

• Clarity and direction in neutrality policy – Report of the Federal Council

  PDF1.25 MB26 October 2022

• Report on neutrality practice in Kosovo

  PDF105.01 kB30 August 2000

• Switzerland’s neutrality practice during the Iraq conflict

  PDF109.42 kB2 December 2005

• White paper on neutrality 1993

  PDF120.71 kB29 November 1993