Swiss organizations oppose revisions to war materiel export laws

The Christian Social Movement (KAB Schweiz) and the Green Party of Switzerland have voiced strong opposition to proposed revisions of the Swiss War Materiel Act. The delegates of KAB Schweiz unanimously passed a resolution in Zurich calling for strict controls on arms exports, arguing that economic interests should not override peace promotion and Switzerland’s humanitarian tradition.

Critics argue the new legislation would remove key safeguards, such as the requirement for foreign governments to guarantee they will not transfer Swiss-made weapons to third parties without Swiss consent. This change could allow Swiss weaponry to reach conflict zones via secondary sales. Furthermore, the revisions would grant the Federal Council greater authority to grant export exceptions, potentially reducing parliamentary oversight.

The proposed law also includes a catalog of countries permitted to receive weapons even if involved in military conflicts, though Ukraine is explicitly excluded from this provision. Opponents note that while the arms industry claims the current regulations are too restrictive, the sector exported weapons valued at nearly one billion Swiss francs last year.