Switzerland's neutrality test puts Nato ties, Russia sanctions at stake

Swiss voters are deciding on Sunday whether to tighten the country's neutrality rules, in a referendum that could restrict its peacetime military cooperation with Nato and limit its ability to impose sanctions on countries involved in wars.According to Reuters, the proposed constitutional amendment would prevent Switzerland from cooperating with military or defence alliances during peacetime, unless the country itself were attacked or an attack were imminent. It would also restrict Switzerland from joining sanctions against countries involved in conflicts, with exceptions including measures mandated by the United Nations.Switzerland is not a Nato member, but it has maintained cooperation with the alliance for decades while retaining its neutral status. Nato says Switzerland joined the Partnership for Peace programme in 1996 and cooperates with the alliance on areas including military interoperability, defence capabilities and peace-support activities.The proposed changes could therefore affect existing forms of Swiss-Nato cooperation.