Ukraine war: Austria argues about neutrality
Ukraine
Fundamental principle is beginning to falter: Because of Putin’s war, Austria is arguing about neutrality
Like Switzerland, Austria also stands between the power blocs. Will that change in the Ukraine war?
Chancellor Karl Nehammer tried everything to capture his words directly. “Austria was neutral, Austria is neutral, Austria will remain neutral,” the head of government insisted. But by then it was already too late – and the debate about Austria’s neutrality was in full swing.
Nehammer himself had unleashed it. Neutrality was “forced” on Austria by the Soviet communists, said the Chancellor. And so Austria suddenly has a discussion about the backbone of its constitution – whether Nehammer wants it or not.
After the Second World War, Austria was divided into occupation zones. In 1955 a contract was sealed that there would be no division as in Germany and that Austria would become independent. The condition of the Soviet Union: neutrality. Austria’s pledge is to practice neutrality “in the manner in which it is handled by Switzerland”.
Standing ovation for Putin
But now it is getting louder and louder in Austria’s hitherto flattering relationship with Russia. As a reminder: Putin has twice been an official guest in Vienna since the annexation of Crimea and has been greeted with standing ovations by businesspeople. Most recently, however, unmistakably angry reports came from the Russian embassy.
Russia is upset that Nehammer sharply condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine and spoke of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The reaction to Nehammer’s statements was a statement from the embassy full of slaps: Nehammer, the chancellor of “apparently neutral Austria”, it said. He made “outrageous statements” and used “emotional anti-Russian rhetoric”.
It was former army commander Günter Höfler who was the first to openly start the debate that Nehammer now wants to end: In history, Höfler said that no country has ever been neutral before an aggressor. The only alternatives are a strong armed neutrality like Switzerland, or joining NATO. In any case, the Austrian army is not heavily armed.
Neutrality must be “seriously discussed”
He was joined by the former ÖVP National Council President Andreas Khol, an eminence grise in the party: in a newspaper article he advocated joining NATO or working in an EU army. The once freely chosen neutrality is to be deleted from the constitution in a similar decision in view of the current “turning point in time”.
Finally, an active politician, ÖVP military spokesman Friedrich Ofenauer, also joined in the chorus: neutrality and its design should be “seriously discussed”.
A parliamentary majority does not currently mean an end to neutrality. The SPÖ and the FPÖ are clearly against it. The Greens made a similar statement. Only the NEOS can imagine making improvements to the constitutional passage.