Neutrality
Permanent neutrality is an instrument of Swiss foreign and security policy. It contributes to peace and security in Europe and beyond. It ensures our country’s independence and the inviolability of our territory. In accordance with the law of neutrality, Switzerland does not participate in wars between other states. The Swiss electorate clearly upheld the country's long-standing practice of neutrality in a popular vote in September 2026.
Swiss voters express clear support for tried-and-tested form of neutrality
With 70.15% against to 29.85% in favour, the Swiss electorate rejected the Neutrality Initiative in a popular vote on 27 September 2026. The initiative had sought to insert an article in the Federal Constitution that would require a stricter practice of neutrality. The country would have had to limit its cooperation on security policy, for example. This cooperation would have been possible only if Switzerland were under military attack, or if preparations for such an attack had been made. Furthermore, Switzerland would no longer have been able to impose sanctions against belligerent states unless those sanctions had originally been adopted by the United Nations.
By rejecting the initiative, the people and the cantons decided against prescribing a stricter framework for the application of neutrality in the Federal Constitution, said Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, commenting on the outcome of the vote. Current practice could therefore continue. Mr Cassis made it clear that the result was “not a vote against neutrality”, remarking “Switzerland was neutral yesterday. It is neutral today. And it will remain neutral in the future”.
Swiss neutrality has developed over the course of several centuries. It is recognised internationally and safeguarded under international law. The Federal Council and Parliament employ neutrality as an instrument to promote Switzerland's interests, especially to protect its security, independence and prosperity. Neutrality is also one of the factors that enables Switzerland to provide its good offices.
Neutrality in the Federal Constitution
Neutrality has been enshrined in the Federal Constitution since 1848. The 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 Confederation 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 that was codified in The Hague Conventions of 18 October 1907 forms part of customary international law. It 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. ban the supply of war-related goods from state-owned stocks or mercenaries
- not to 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 authorised by the UN Security Council, as the latter acts under a mandate from the international community to re-establish peace and international security. For the same reason the law on neutrality also does not prevent neutral states from supporting such operations.
A 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.
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FDFA, Directorate of International Law DIL
Kochergasse 10
3003 Bern