The scathing views in the recently published memories of Georges Martin (ex-swiss ambassador) on current Swiss foreign policy

by Suissetralia

2 comments

  1. I personally couldn’t agree more with his words on how Cassis has been moving from one disaster to the next, and the issue of the lack of respect for the neutrality is particularly severe. It’s okay if the country should change its neutrality policy, but not in cantimini without asking the people first as this has many consequences, including for the ICRC whose work depends on our neutrality. Putin claims that we’re no longer neutral, and Biden pointed out that we are no longer neutral as we’ve chosen good vs evil. Our neutrality does not depend on our declaration of intentions but on the perceptions that others have of us, and we’ve lost that credibility when two of the world’s major powers declare that we’re not neutral.

    When Alain Berset refused to fuel the warmongering sentiment, many people criticised him, but he wasn’t wrong, the media and some politicians are dragging Switzerland into hasty decisions like those taken by Sweden and Finland over a geopolitical situation that’s none of our making, and the complexity of which does not seem to be understood by Bern. Yes Russia has attacked unprovoked; yes NATO expanded eastwards which the russians consider a provocation; yes, this was done at the request of its now NATO eastern members, but it was also fuelled by Washington as NATO could have denied this expansion. Looking at these conflicts with Disney-tinted glasses that don’t differentiate between the shades of ‘good and evil’ is acceptable for someone without responsibilities for the country, but not for the foreign minister.

  2. “Finland had nothing to fear from Russia”

    Who is this guy and why does anyone listen to him?

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