this post was submitted on 20 Mar 2026
432 points (99.5% liked)

World News

54976 readers
2190 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
top 32 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works 71 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I was very annoyed at them when they did it to Ukraine, but it’s honestly a lot more based in this context

[–] zaphod@sopuli.xyz 16 points 3 days ago

With Ukraine they refuse to support a country that is being attacked, with the USA they refuse to support a country that is attacking another. While I don't condone the former, the latter is definitely based.

[–] First_Thunder@lemmy.zip 22 points 3 days ago (1 children)

At least no one can complain that they aren’t consistent

[–] Keeponstalin@lemmy.world 74 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

Switzerland has been selling weapons to Israel since 1955 from what I can tell, and I haven't been able to find any info that they've stopped recently

I see new licenses have been suspended in recent years, but I've also read that doesn't prevent sales from older licenses.

[–] Wataba@sh.itjust.works 22 points 3 days ago (1 children)

So they're as neutral as they were during WWII when they continued trading with the Nazis.

Its actually just a mirror image at that point.

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

TBF we (the US) were technically neutral prior to December 1941 but we traded like crazy with the British and engaged in all sorts of neutrality violations like repairing British warships in US ports. Hell, Lend-Lease was us just straight up giving war materiel to Britain and the USSR. We were even fighting a de facto war with Germany in the Atlantic.

[–] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Boats don't belong in a real blue water Navy.

/s

[–] robocall@lemmy.world 17 points 3 days ago (1 children)

But Israel called Switzerland anti semitic and will do it again if Switzerland doesn't do what they ask

[–] idiomaddict@lemmy.world 9 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Well gee, we could return the things stolen from Jews by Nazis… or we could just sell weapons to Israel. That’s easier and more profitable!

[–] Keeponstalin@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago

Very neutral btw*

*may only apply to select European powers

[–] TwodogsFighting@lemdro.id 10 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Bloody hell. They didn't even stop doing business with the nazis the first time round.

[–] returningtheday@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Fool me once...

[–] Diurnambule@jlai.lu 2 points 3 days ago

We stop at pétrole price

[–] Davel23@fedia.io 22 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Does Switzerland export much in the way of weapons to the US?

[–] ravenaspiring@sh.itjust.works 12 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Apparently what I can find

  • Aerial vehicles SwissDrones

  • Ammunition SwissP

  • Small arms Swiss Arms parent to SIG Sauer AG

Having said that, Sig Sauer's US arms is entirely US manufactured and some how independent of their parent. Ammo is also made in the US. So the M17, M18, MCX, and others are unlikely to be affected. Drones though... I didn't dig on that.

This sort of political cutoff and worse is why the US military has required domestic manufacturing. LE still might be impacted, but can probably deal without more guns and drones.

Having said that I do respect the swiss for cutting the US off and sticking to their neutrality.

[–] teyrnon@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 days ago

I would too if someone hadn't just pointed out they sell weapons to Israel, and despite suspending new licenses continue selling to them under old licenses. They get no credit as far as I'm concerned.

They are talking about Swiss army knives.

[–] robocall@lemmy.world 19 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Why won't the Swiss think of the American children that need access to those guns?! /s

[–] Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca 11 points 3 days ago

School supplies

[–] richardwallass@sh.itjust.works -1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

What kind of arms Swiss army knife ?

[–] boonhet@sopuli.xyz 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

They do actually make guns and stuff. Part of the whole being strong enough to remain neutral thing.

[–] ms_lane@lemmy.world -5 points 3 days ago (3 children)

No weapons or Ammo to Ukraine

Yes to weapons and intermediate technology to Russia

No to Weapons for US

I'm guessing a 'Weapons package to Iran' is probably in the works from the 'neutral' nation.

[–] Verdorrterpunkt@feddit.org 6 points 3 days ago

That is not how the law works, currently it's: no arms for countries in armed conflicts. There is a process to adapt those rules, but it's really slow. Yes, that includes export bans on stuff to israel and iran too.

[–] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

I wouldn't say Iran is the Russia in this war tbf.

Any sources on that!