According to a recent study published by the Swiss federal technology institute ETH Zurich's Military Academy and Centre for Security Studies, 55% of Swiss citizens surveyed now express a

desire for closer ties with NATO, up by 10% from January 2021. However, only one-third of those surveyed support Switzerland's potential membership in the military alliance.

The study also revealed that 53% of respondents believe Swiss neutrality should allow the country to plan its military defence in coordination with NATO. Nevertheless, the majority still supports Switzerland's neutrality policy, with 91% in favour of neutrality in general, and 57% believing that Switzerland should maintain a differentiated policy of neutrality, taking a political stance on certain issues while remaining militarily neutral.

The study shows that attitudes towards neutrality have shifted slightly, with a 6% decrease in overall support for neutrality. Most respondents, 75%, believe that Swiss sanctions against Russia are compatible with neutrality.

The poll surveyed 1,238 Swiss citizens from the three main language regions via phone in January 2023.

The study also highlighted that the majority of Swiss citizens, 78%, believe that the Swiss army is necessary, and 76% support its full equipment. However, since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, 14% of those surveyed expressed concerns that the army is investing "too little."

Overall, the study suggests that while Swiss citizens express a desire for closer ties with NATO, they remain committed to their country's neutrality policy. However, the shift in attitudes towards neutrality may indicate a willingness to consider more active involvement in international affairs. Photo by Denizb33, Wikimedia commons.