Neutral status and self-sufficiency in defence
In the past, particularly for certain small countries, neutrality
represented an effective security policy. Nonetheless, the status of
neutral countries was linked to the recognition of neutrality by other
countries. The neutrality of a country could be proclaimed through a
multilateral international treaty or through a constitutional
provision combined with the recognition of a great power. In some
European states
(Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Ireland),
neutrality was established under particular historical circumstances.
In Europe today, neutrality is maintained in actuality only by
countries that received this status in the past. New circumstances are
however causing them to confront the problems that this status
presents for their increasingly active security policy in the
international community, which is facing threats different from those
in the past. Austria, Ireland, Finland and Sweden are members of the
EU and, together with Switzerland, are also participating in the
Partnership for Peace programme of the NATO Alliance. In the past
decade the EU has begun to develop the concept of a
Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
and to establish joint armed forces for interventions in crisis
areas. As part of the
Partnership for Peace within the NATO Alliance as well,
countries are developing their security cooperation and including
themselves in military and other activities for managing crises. All
of this places demands on neutral countries to renounce their
traditional neutral position to some extent.
Neutrality represented an effective security policy under
conditions when military threats to security predominated and there
existed a clear understanding of opposing alliances, but it is less
effective under circumstances when the principle sources of threats
are of another nature and countries are able to ensure their security
primarily through cooperation. It is not realistic today for Slovenia
to effectively guarantee its security through a status of
neutrality. The circumstances that would enable the an international
status similar to that of the aforementioned neutral states no longer
exist; an incongruity is appearing between this kind of status and the
models for ensuring security through cooperation that have developed
within the framework of European institutions. Furthermore, neutral
status is not a beneficial policy in terms of costs.
In the past as well as today, neutral European countries have
maintained a considerable strength in their armed forces in order to
ensure their security. Significant resources are directed towards
defence expenditures.
|
