One Proud Swiss Miss
I love Switzerland!!
Both my parents came from Switzerland. It’s my heritage, I have citizenship, it’s absolutely beautiful, and of course boasts the finest of cheese and chocolate in the world.
What is there not to love?!!
Besides its unarguably magnificent beauty, one of the other traits Switzerland’s is known for is that of political neutrality.
One of the main principles of Switzerland’s foreign policy dictates that Switzerland is not to be involved in armed or political conflicts between other states. This policy is self-imposed and designed to ensure extra external security and promote peace. In fact, Switzerland has the oldest policy of military neutrality in the world: it has not participated in a foreign war since its neutrality was established by the Treaty of Paris in 1815.
Since World War II Switzerland has taken a more active role in international affairs by aiding with humanitarian initiatives while remaining fiercely neutral with regard to military affairs. This small Alpine nation has been entrusted with special international functions, including acting as a mediator in conflicts. All the while Switzerland has long sought to maintain neutrality, hosting numerous peace talks and negotiations between geopolitical adversaries.
All this changed Monday February 28, 2022, Swiss history made a sharp break with Switzerland’s long-standing neutrality as it announced that it would join the European Union, United Kingdom, and the United States, in imposing sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, filling a key gap in Western efforts to curb the Kremlin.
While I love and am deeply proud of the role of mediator and peacekeeping the Swiss are known for, I am even prouder that history was made as they joined the effort to support the people and country of Ukraine.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
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