2023-08-07 16:01:05
Leopard 2 main battle tank of the Swiss Army
Switzerland has enshrined its neutrality in the constitution, which is why exports of weapons and ammunition to war zones are generally prohibited.
(Photo: IMAGO/Björn Trotsky)
Zurich The boss of the Swiss state-owned armaments company Ruag, Brigitte Beck, has to resign. Ruag Holding announced on Monday in Bern that Beck would leave the company with immediate effect. The armaments group is thus drawing personnel consequences from the differences between the company management and the Swiss Ministry of Defense.
Beck had repeatedly publicly criticized Switzerland’s refusal to permit the further export of arms and ammunition to Ukraine, thereby triggering a controversy. The decision was made in connection with the manager’s public appearances in spring 2023, the company explained. The board of directors, the supervisory body, had come to the conclusion that the only way to resolve the controversy was through a change in leadership.
Beck sealed her end with statements at a panel discussion on the Swiss neutrality law in May. Parts of the recording were also shown on Swiss television. Referring to EU countries that bought weapons and ammunition in Switzerland before the war and would now like to send them to Ukraine, she said: “Send this stuff to Ukraine. what would we do Nothing.”
In Switzerland, Beck’s statements were interpreted as a call to ignore federal export restrictions. As a neutral country, Switzerland prohibits the export of arms and ammunition to war zones.
Countries that import armaments from Switzerland generally undertake not to pass on these weapons or at least to obtain prior approval from the federal government. Parliament’s initiatives to soften the strict rules have so far been unsuccessful.
Export bans cause ongoing disputes
The strict policy of neutrality had also repeatedly thwarted the Ruag Group. A few years ago, the company bought 96 decommissioned Leopard 1 tanks in Italy. The tanks had never been to Switzerland before. Nevertheless, the government in Bern rejected a request from the German Ministry of Defense to import the tanks to Germany for repairs and then send them to Ukraine.
Brigitte Beck
The head of the state-owned company has to resign because of critical statements about Switzerland’s strict stance on arms exports.
(Photo: Ruag)
There have already been similar quarrels about Swiss-made ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft tank. Ukraine is in dire need of the cheetah, for example to ward off Russian drone strikes on energy infrastructure or civilian targets. But the bullets are running out.
The Bundeswehr still has ammunition stocks that were produced in Switzerland – but passing them on is taboo. The ongoing dispute has been a strain on Switzerland’s relations with western partners, including the USA, for months.
After all: In September, the Swiss parliament could give the green light for the country to participate in a kind of subsequent ring exchange. The federal army has retired Leopard 2 tanks. These could be delivered to European partner countries, which in turn have already sent modern battle tanks to Ukraine. The state-owned armaments company Ruag is also the focus of this deal – but no longer with Brigitte Beck at the helm.
More: Decision on Swiss Leopard tanks pending
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