Archive: https://archive.is/2025.03.16-112421/https://www.ft.com/content/38de65f3-6ea1-4056-856c-601f71bb1cb3
Just two months ago, Switzerland’s new defence minister was seen as an outsider with little chance of securing a federal government post.
But Martin Pfister, an army colonel and cantonal minister who advocates for more defence co-operation with Natoand EU neighbours, is set to take office next month after defeating a more conservative rival earlier this week.
Swiss neutrality was always based on hiding under NATO’s coattails. Once that is no longer an option, they’ll have to rethink their strategic position.
Switzerland had been neutral for 300 years, and hadn’t participated in any wars for 434 years, when NATO was founded.