Switzerland should abandon its historic neutrality and join NATO, according to John Bolton, former national security adviser to Donald Trump. In an interview published on Sunday, Bolton

argued that neutrality can no longer guarantee Switzerland's security in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

"Neutrality is losing its viability," Bolton told the SonntagsBlick newspaper. He pointed to the examples of Sweden and Finland, which recently abandoned their neutral stances to align with NATO, recognizing the protective benefits of being part of the alliance.

Bolton also issued a stark warning about Donald Trump's potential return to the presidency. "Trump will pick up where he left off four years ago," the 75-year-old said, adding that a second Trump term could inflict even more damage than the first. According to Bolton, Trump has radical ideas he may try to implement, threatening both economic and military stability in transatlantic relations.

Trump has already hinted at imposing tariffs as high as 20% on European imports, Bolton noted, urging the European Union to prepare for such a scenario to avoid economic repercussions. "A trade war would harm the global economy, and that's the last thing we need right now," he warned.

Bolton also speculated that Trump might go as far as withdrawing the United States from NATO. Reflecting on his experience at the 2018 NATO summit in Brussels, he revealed, "At that time, he was on the verge of it. Depending on how the war in Ukraine develops, he might follow through this time."

Bolton stressed the importance of NATO and urged European countries to allocate more resources to their defense budgets. "NATO is a critical and effective alliance. It provides greater security for all its members, including the United States," he stated.

He highlighted the importance of collective defense, criticizing Trump’s view that the U.S. is defending Europe without adequate compensation. "Trump doesn’t understand the concept of common defense; he acts only in ways that he believes serve his personal interests," Bolton said.

Bolton made a strong case for Switzerland to reconsider its traditional stance on neutrality. "Switzerland should join NATO. Neutrality, in today’s geopolitical context, has no future," he argued. He emphasized that joining NATO would enhance Switzerland's security, aligning it with the broader European defense framework.

Referring to the recent decisions by Sweden and Finland to join the alliance, Bolton remarked, "They recognized that true safety lies behind NATO’s collective defense umbrella. Switzerland should do the same."

In a world of shifting alliances and growing uncertainties, Bolton's remarks highlight the debate over neutrality's relevance and whether Switzerland should recalibrate its defense strategy for the future. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.