The policy of neutrality and investment in the defence system

Abstract

At a time when traditionally neutral countries in international relations, such as Finland and Sweden, decide to abandon this concept, it is necessary to reconsider the policy of neutrality of European countries, as well as costs and investment in the defence system. Analysing the case of the neutrality of Switzerland, Austria and the Republic of Serbia, the authors start from the policy of this concept and monitor the costs and investment in their defence system. Switzerland is the first country whose permanent neutrality is internationally recognized and is considered a model of the international and legal status of neutrality. Austrian neutrality is much younger and is the result of specific international relations. Among other things, Switzerland bases its policy of neutrality on the concept of armed neutrality and great investment in materiel, and Austria follows a similar pattern in the policy of neutrality. Although neutrality of each state is conditioned by various factors and marked by specificities, which should be taken into account when generalising, the authors believe that, despite changes in the structure of international politics and the expansion of the meaning and scope of security, great investment in the defense and security system is a guarantee of indisputability and sustainability of neutral states. Therefore, using comparative analysis of neutrality policies and comparing investment in defence systems, they conclude that the key to the concept of neutrality and armed deterrence is investment in materiel, which is of great importance for developing and strengthening the concept of the military neutrality of the Republic of Serbia.