Switzerland halts arms exports to US over Iran war, citing neutrality (www.middleeasteye.net)
from fossilesque@mander.xyz to world@lemmy.world on 20 Mar 21:54
https://mander.xyz/post/49233664

#world

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gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works on 20 Mar 22:29 next collapse

I was very annoyed at them when they did it to Ukraine, but it’s honestly a lot more based in this context

First_Thunder@lemmy.zip on 20 Mar 22:51 next collapse

At least no one can complain that they aren’t consistent

Keeponstalin@lemmy.world on 20 Mar 23:09 collapse

Switzerland has been selling weapons to Israel since 1955 from what I can tell, and I haven’t been able to find any info that they’ve stopped recently

I see new licenses have been suspended in recent years, but I’ve also read that doesn’t prevent sales from older licenses.

robocall@lemmy.world on 20 Mar 23:26 next collapse

But Israel called Switzerland anti semitic and will do it again if Switzerland doesn’t do what they ask

idiomaddict@lemmy.world on 21 Mar 01:36 collapse

Well gee, we could return the things stolen from Jews by Nazis… or we could just sell weapons to Israel. That’s easier and more profitable!

Keeponstalin@lemmy.world on 21 Mar 02:28 collapse

Very neutral btw*

*may only apply to select European powers

Wataba@sh.itjust.works on 21 Mar 06:26 collapse

So they’re as neutral as they were during WWII when they continued trading with the Nazis.

Its actually just a mirror image at that point.

ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world on 21 Mar 10:53 collapse

TBF we (the US) were technically neutral prior to December 1941 but we traded like crazy with the British and engaged in all sorts of neutrality violations like repairing British warships in US ports. Hell, Lend-Lease was us just straight up giving war materiel to Britain and the USSR. We were even fighting a de facto war with Germany in the Atlantic.

AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world on 21 Mar 15:26 collapse

Boats don’t belong in a real blue water Navy.

/s

zaphod@sopuli.xyz on 21 Mar 11:36 collapse

With Ukraine they refuse to support a country that is being attacked, with the USA they refuse to support a country that is attacking another. While I don’t condone the former, the latter is definitely based.

Davel23@fedia.io on 20 Mar 22:33 next collapse

Does Switzerland export much in the way of weapons to the US?

ravenaspiring@sh.itjust.works on 21 Mar 00:05 next collapse

Apparently what I can find

  • Aerial vehicles SwissDrones

  • Ammunition SwissP

  • Small arms Swiss Arms parent to SIG Sauer AG

Having said that, Sig Sauer’s US arms is entirely US manufactured and some how independent of their parent. Ammo is also made in the US. So the M17, M18, MCX, and others are unlikely to be affected. Drones though… I didn’t dig on that.

This sort of political cutoff and worse is why the US military has required domestic manufacturing. LE still might be impacted, but can probably deal without more guns and drones.

Having said that I do respect the swiss for cutting the US off and sticking to their neutrality.

teyrnon@sh.itjust.works on 21 Mar 14:24 collapse

I would too if someone hadn’t just pointed out they sell weapons to Israel, and despite suspending new licenses continue selling to them under old licenses. They get no credit as far as I’m concerned.

IAmYouButYouDontKnowYet@reddthat.com on 21 Mar 00:45 collapse

They are talking about Swiss army knives.

ShotDonkey@lemmy.world on 20 Mar 22:40 next collapse

…citing that another buyer pays more.

Verdorrterpunkt@feddit.org on 21 Mar 06:12 next collapse

The Bundesrat waited frustratingly long with this restriction and i am unhappy with that. So no, they really wanted to continue but their hands were kinda tued here.

Vinylraupe@lemmy.zip on 21 Mar 11:55 collapse

0.3% of Switzerlands BIP is from the defense industry.

Tja@programming.dev on 21 Mar 13:54 next collapse

GDP*

Ibisalt@lemmy.world on 21 Mar 15:40 collapse

People dont care. They just read switzerland and are like: “a yeah, the evil country that got rich by hiding nazi gold” but in reallity they dont know shit. They don’t wanna know.

robocall@lemmy.world on 20 Mar 23:29 next collapse

Why won’t the Swiss think of the American children that need access to those guns?! /s

Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca on 21 Mar 01:50 collapse

School supplies

ms_lane@lemmy.world on 21 Mar 02:37 next collapse

No weapons or Ammo to Ukraine

Yes to weapons and intermediate technology to Russia

No to Weapons for US

I’m guessing a ‘Weapons package to Iran’ is probably in the works from the ‘neutral’ nation.

Verdorrterpunkt@feddit.org on 21 Mar 06:10 next collapse

That is not how the law works, currently it’s: no arms for countries in armed conflicts. There is a process to adapt those rules, but it’s really slow. Yes, that includes export bans on stuff to israel and iran too.

rants_unnecessarily@piefed.social on 21 Mar 06:11 next collapse

Any sources on that!

Jankatarch@lemmy.world on 21 Mar 06:51 collapse

I wouldn’t say Iran is the Russia in this war tbf.

richardwallass@sh.itjust.works on 21 Mar 11:04 next collapse

What kind of arms Swiss army knife ?

boonhet@sopuli.xyz on 21 Mar 14:37 collapse

They do actually make guns and stuff. Part of the whole being strong enough to remain neutral thing.

richardwallass@sh.itjust.works on 21 Mar 15:17 collapse

Like in 39-45 ?

ArmchairAce1944@discuss.online on 21 Mar 16:23 collapse

And 14-18.

TwodogsFighting@lemdro.id on 21 Mar 16:11 collapse

Bloody hell. They didn’t even stop doing business with the nazis the first time round.

Diurnambule@jlai.lu on 21 Mar 16:16 next collapse

We stop at pétrole price

returningtheday@lemmy.world on 21 Mar 18:10 collapse

Fool me once…