NextFin News - On December 23, 2025, a Swiss citizens' committee formally submitted more than 135,000 signatures to the Federal Chancellery in Bern, kickstarting a nationwide initiative to compel Switzerland to join the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The event, held in Bern, marks a significant moment in Swiss participatory democracy, as it seeks to enshrine in law the prohibition of nuclear weapons consistent with the treaty, which entered into force internationally in 2021.
The TPNW bans the development, testing, production, acquisition, possession, and use of nuclear weapons. Switzerland helped negotiate and supported the treaty at the UN in 2017. However, the Swiss Federal Council has resisted accession, citing current geopolitical realities, non-recognition of the treaty by nuclear powers, and preference for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which includes all nuclear-armed states.
Despite government reservations, the initiative enjoys strong popular backing. Polls indicate that approximately 72% of the Swiss population favors joining the treaty. This broad-based support includes segments of centrist and center-right political constituencies. Switzerland currently neither possesses nor plans to acquire nuclear weapons, and the initiative’s proponents argue that joining TPNW aligns with Swiss humanitarian principles and enhances Switzerland’s credibility in global disarmament diplomacy.
The Federal Council’s opposition stems partially from security considerations. Since no nuclear-armed country has signed the TPNW and tensions have intensified globally following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the council fears that unilateral accession could send inconsistent diplomatic signals and potentially complicate Switzerland’s historically neutral mediation role. Switzerland currently supports nuclear disarmament under the NPT framework, which remains broadly accepted and ratified by 191 states, including all nuclear powers.
Deepening this dynamic, nearly 100 countries have ratified the TPNW, demonstrating a growing global norm against nuclear weapons from humanitarian and security perspectives. Proponents emphasize that banning these weapons legally strengthens international efforts to reduce nuclear risks. They also cite the treaty as closing a critical legal and moral gap by explicitly prohibiting nuclear arms akin to chemical and biological weapons.
The initiative follows a global trend of civil society mobilization on disarmament, intensified by heightened geopolitical conflicts and concerns of nuclear escalation in the current decade. Switzerland’s direct democracy enables citizens to drive foreign policy debates often ahead of official government positions, underscoring a tension between popular humanitarian values and the pragmatic calculations of state security.
Economically and diplomatically, accession to the TPNW could bolster Switzerland's profile as a champion of international law and humanitarian leadership, potentially influencing UN disarmament forums and Switzerland's role as a mediator in conflicts. However, political resistance within government circles and some political parties could restrict immediate ratification, leading to a referendum that will test the balance between public opinion and state security doctrine.
Looking forward, if the initiative succeeds, Switzerland may become one of the few Western nations to formalize adherence to the nuclear ban treaty, setting a precedent for middle powers navigating the nuclear disarmament landscape amid major power rivalries. This development could catalyze broader shifts in global non-proliferation efforts and impact Switzerland’s diplomatic alignment vis-à-vis nuclear-armed states, including the U.S., Russia, and China.
In summary, the Swiss initiative to ban nuclear weapons via UN treaty accession represents a landmark intersection of civic engagement, humanitarian advocacy, and nuanced national security policymaking in a volatile international environment under U.S. President Trump's administration. While the government currently prioritizes strategic caution, the public momentum for nuclear disarmament underscores evolving expectations for Switzerland’s role in global peace and security architecture.
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