On Wednesday, the Swiss Federal Council approved the country’s participation in it European SkyShield initiative (Essy) Good.
The Swiss Federal Council has approved the proposal according to which the Swiss Air Force will now cooperate with other European countries in the arms race with Russia. The Federal Council stated in a press release that Switzerland retains autonomy regarding participation. “Even after signing the Declaration of Participation, Switzerland is free to decide where and to what extent it will participate in the ESSI initiative and which surface-to-air defense systems it plans to purchase.”
European SkyShield initiative
He. She European SkyShield initiative (ESSI) is a partnership between about twenty NATO countries led by Germany. The Netherlands is also participating in the project. In this context, member states have been working together in the field of air defense since October 2022. By joining forces, European countries can obtain military equipment faster and cheaper. For example, there is currently a project in which countries jointly purchase Patriot missiles. It is a medium-range ground-based air defense system.
The initiative was launched after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Switzerland says it remains neutral despite participating in the EU's support packages for Ukraine. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, its European neighbors have increasingly urged Switzerland to support Ukraine militarily. The supply of Swiss arms to Ukraine is currently not permitted.
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