Switzerland rejects US military overflights citing neutrality

Switzerland has rejected some requests from United States military aircraft to fly over its territory, citing the country’s neutrality laws.

According to Reuters, the Swiss government reviewed five requests from US military and official planes. Authorities rejected two of them but approved three others.

Officials said the decision followed Switzerland’s strict neutrality rules during armed conflicts.

“The law on neutrality prohibits overflights by parties to the conflict that serve a military purpose related to the conflict,” the government said in a statement.

“Permitted are humanitarian and medical transits, including the transport of wounded persons, as well as overflights that are unrelated to the conflict.”