Jordan Refuses Full Cooperation in Swiss Weapons Inspection
Jordan has refused to fully cooperate with Swiss inspectors conducting checks on weapons exported from Switzerland, raising concerns over compliance with international arms agreements.
According to a report from State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco), Swiss officials visited Jordan in February 2025 as part of a post-shipment verification (PSV) process. These inspections ensure that Swiss-made weapons remain in the importing country and are not transferred without authorization.
The report revealed that Jordan prevented inspectors from examining certain weapons during the visit. Swiss authorities also reported that some individual weapons could not be located, increasing concerns about transparency and accountability.
Switzerland requires importing countries to follow strict rules regarding the resale or transfer of military equipment. Swiss officials say on-site inspections are essential for verifying whether countries respect these obligations.
The issue has sparked political debate in Switzerland as parliament recently approved changes to relax parts of the War Materiel Act. Under the revised law, importing countries may no longer need to provide guarantees against transferring Swiss weapons to third parties in every case.
Critics argue that loosening export controls could weaken oversight and reduce Switzerland’s ability to monitor how its military equipment is used abroad. Supporters, however, claim the reforms would simplify export procedures and improve the competitiveness of Swiss defense industries.
The law change now faces a national referendum after campaigners submitted more than 75,000 signatures demanding a public vote. Swiss voters are expected to decide on the issue no earlier than September 2026.
The debate highlights growing international concern over arms exports, military accountability, and the monitoring of defense agreements between countries.
