The Swiss government has announced new restrictions on arms exports, citing the ongoing U.S. military operations against Iran as the reason for the measures. Since February 28, when the operations began, Switzerland has halted the issuance of new licenses for military material sales to the U.S.
In addition to the ban on new shipments, the Swiss authorities have established a review process for existing licenses, conducted by a specialized group of experts. Similar restrictions have been in place for several years regarding arms exports to Israel and Iran.
Switzerland has also begun to limit the use of its airspace for military operations. The government has rejected two requests from Washington for military aircraft to fly over Swiss territory for operations against Iran, while granting three others that complied with neutrality laws.
These measures echo actions taken by Switzerland in 2003, following the U.S. invasion of Iraq, when the country similarly blocked flights and arms exports to nations involved in the conflict.
The oversight now extends beyond direct arms shipments to include dual-use goods, with an inter-agency group regularly reviewing contracts to ensure compliance with sanctions against Iran and neutrality principles.
Despite these official restrictions, Swiss defense companies have reportedly found ways to circumvent regulations, allowing them to maintain a presence in global arms markets even under stringent legal constraints.
Amid concerns from the government, the Swiss Senate has eased strict controls on arms exports to bolster the country’s defense industry, which has become increasingly isolated. This decision comes as arms exports from Switzerland have declined for the second consecutive year in 2024, largely due to the inability to supply arms to Ukraine.
In related developments, U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that the U.S. has effectively won the war against Iran, although he noted that operations are ongoing and pressure on Tehran will continue. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that about 65% of Americans believe Trump might decide to deploy troops to Iran, though only 7% support such a move.
Furthermore, the U.S. is reportedly accelerating the deployment of thousands of Marines and sailors to the Middle East, with some forces being sent weeks ahead of schedule. A Marine Expeditionary Unit led by the USS Boxer has already departed from the U.S. West Coast earlier than planned.
Switzerland has enacted new arms export restrictions due to U.S. military actions against Iran, while also limiting airspace use for military flights. The Swiss Senate has eased some controls to support its defense industry amid declining exports.