Switzerland's Defence Minister Viola Amherd has signed a memorandum of understanding to participate in the European air defence system Sky Shield. The decision was announced during a

meeting in Bern with her German and Austrian counterparts.

Switzerland, as a neutral state, registered its reservations in a supplementary declaration, emphasizing its ability to decide the extent of its participation.

The Sky Shield initiative, consisting of 17 countries, aims to jointly acquire a European missile defence shield. This commitment poses challenges to Switzerland's historical neutrality policy as it involves information exchange and cooperation in the operation of defence systems.

The focus is on better coordination of air defence procurement and maintenance at a European level, reducing costs and enhancing training and logistics coordination. Amherd highlighted the importance of international cooperation in light of the security situation in Europe, particularly due to the war in Ukraine. She also emphasized Switzerland's involvement in the initiative to address issues in the Western Balkans, citing the recent riots in Kosovo as a cause for concern. Photo by Wolpat, Wikimedia commons.