Switzerland blocks transfer of arms and armored vehicles to Ukraine
June 4, 2022, 12:29 pm

Switzerland blocks transfer of arms and armored vehicles to Ukraine

Andriy Chorny-Kuybida, one of the Ukrainian soldiers killed by the Russian invasion (Photo: Euromaidan Press)

The Alarabiya English reported, citing the AFP, Switzerland insisted Friday (June 3) that it would not allow Swiss war materiel to be transferred via third countries to Ukraine, in line with its strict military neutrality.

However it decided that individual parts and assembly packages could be delivered to European defense companies even if they will be used to produce war materiel that might later be transferred to Ukraine.

Switzerland said it had received requests from Germany and Denmark to transfer war materiel to Ukraine.

The German request concerned around 12,400 rounds of 35-millimetre ammunition produced by Switzerland for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, and for Piranha III wheeled armored personnel carriers (APCs) that were originally procured by Denmark and which have been stored in Germany since they were decommissioned.

The request made by Denmark concerns 22 Swiss-made Piranha III wheeled APCs.

Under Switzerland’s War Materiel Act, export requests cannot be approved if the recipient country is in an international armed conflict.

The Federal Council government said in a statement: “Given that exports of such goods from Switzerland to Ukraine cannot be approved due to the law of neutrality’s principle of equal treatment and the provisions of the War Materiel Act, it follows that it is not possible to approve the transfer of Swiss war materiel by Germany and Denmark to Ukraine."

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The government also decided Friday on two requests by Swiss firms to export parts and assembly packages to defense companies in neighboring Germany and Italy.

The requests concerned components for both hand-held anti-tank weapons and for anti-aircraft weapons.

The government said: “There is a risk that some of the components could be incorporated into war materiel abroad that could then be passed on to Ukraine."

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The War Materiel Act allows Swiss companies to participate in international value chains of the defense industry.

In practice, the Swiss government has generally only tended to approve the export of parts and assembly packages if their share in the end product’s value remains below a certain threshold - less than 50 percent in the case of Italy or Germany.

It said: “The Federal Council has decided to continue this practice. Exports of this kind are compatible with the law of neutrality."

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Within days of Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, Switzerland decided to match the neighboring European Union’s sanctions on Moscow, breaking with the neutral Alpine country’s traditional reserve.

Switzerland’s long-standing position is one of armed neutrality and the landlocked European country has mandatory conscription for men.

Source: alarabiyaenglish

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”