there is an english proverb: “no news is good news.”
when we don’t hear from relatives or friends for a long time, it often means they are doing well. if there were problems or tragedies, we would have heard about them.
this proverb can also apply to certain countries about which we rarely hear anything. switzerland is perhaps the best example, despite being in the heart of europe, which is a region that has been a center of turmoil since the middle ages.
accidents are few, and disasters are rare in switzerland. the country experiences little labor or political unrest, and its streets are unaccustomed to demonstrations. the world pays little attention to its elections, political parties, or even who its president is and the driving forces behind its policies. in this sense, switzerland is one of the most mysterious countries in the world.
despite its reputation for transparency, the bankruptcy of credit suisse a year ago surprised many, especially after its acquisition by ubs, a smaller competitor. this move aimed to prevent turmoil in the global banking sector and save the bank, which was founded 167 years ago and is one of the world’s largest wealth managers.
one of the most fascinating aspects of switzerland’s history is its longstanding neutrality, which began after the battle of marignano in september 1515. the old swiss confederation suffered defeat in the battle and subsequently signed a peace treaty with france in november 1516. before this, the swiss confederation had followed an expansionist policy.
the world officially recognized switzerland’s neutrality at the congress of vienna in 1815, when the great powers affirmed its permanent neutrality and incorporated it into their official policies. this marked the first formal recognition of neutrality in europe. international acknowledgment of swiss neutrality was later reaffirmed in the treaty of versailles in 1919, and the league of nations, based in geneva, officially recognized it in 1920.
unlike the neutrality of other countries, such as austria in 1955, finland and ireland in 1922, liechtenstein in 1868, sweden in 1834, or malta and costa rica in 1949, swiss neutrality is unique in being supported by three international agreements.
switzerland’s neutrality stems from its status as a repository of national wealth, a safe haven for the fortunes of powerful financial and political figures, and even notorious criminals. its neutrality goes beyond reliance on guarantees from major powers; it is deeply embedded in national culture based on defensive armament and national unity. this makes switzerland a rare and successful model in modern history.
switzerland does everything in its power to maintain its neutrality, even amid numerous international crises.
for many, switzerland remains like ali baba’s cave. the country is known for its strict and sometimes formidable security measures, as well as its powerful intelligence agencies, which protect and conceal its little-known sources of wealth.
the recognition of swiss neutrality was far from accidental. those who signed the agreements could not have foreseen the true implications of that neutrality until europe’s major wars unfolded. over time, much of the stolen artifacts, artworks, gold, jewelry, money, and sensitive documents ended up secured in the deep underground vaults of swiss banks.
credit for establishing switzerland as a neutral state in the modern era belongs to several influential figures across many important periods and historical events.
in the modern era, the congress of vienna in 1815 played a decisive role in establishing swiss neutrality. the major european powers imposed neutrality on switzerland as part of the international arrangements following the napoleonic wars, aiming to isolate france and maintain a balance of power in europe.
swiss figures, such as federal chancellor arthur hoffmann, also contributed to strengthening this position.
the first and second world wars further solidified switzerland’s policy of armed neutrality. the country mobilized half a million soldiers to defend its neutrality, and demonstrated its readiness to protect itself against any aggression.
international organizations based in switzerland, such as the international committee of the red cross and the league of nations, reinforced the country’s neutral status on the global stage.
swiss neutrality, therefore, is the result of both international political balances and the influential role of swiss diplomats and local leaders throughout modern history. it is said that several wealthy families, including the rothschilds, supported the establishment of this neutrality to protect their fortunes.
as a result, switzerland has long been regarded by both friends and foes as a safe haven for wealth, or more accurately, for the money many of them stole.