The Swiss Foreign Minister pointed to the preservation of the country's neutrality after the referendum.

Switzerland does not abandon the policy of neutrality after rejecting the initiative to consolidate its stricter framework in the constitution. This was announced on September 27 by the country's Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis following the results of the referendum.

"This result is not a vote against neutrality. Switzerland was neutral yesterday, it is neutral today and will remain neutral in the future," he said at a press conference broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Swiss Federal Council.

Cassis noted that the citizens and cantons of the country decided not to fix additional restrictions on the application of neutrality in the basic law. The minister added that Swiss neutrality is not a fixed policy and has adapted over time to the international situation and the interests of the country. According to him, in different periods he could be both more restrictive and more open to cooperation.

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This will require a majority of votes in the September referendum, which could tighten the requirements for the country's special status.

The Politico newspaper reported on September 26 that if the initiative to tighten neutrality is approved, Switzerland may face restrictions when imposing new sanctions against Russia and cooperating with military structures, including NATO. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said on September 14 that there was "little left of Swiss neutrality."

On September 27, Switzerland held a referendum on the "Neutrality Initiative", which proposed the consolidation of the principle of eternal and comprehensive neutrality in the Constitution. According to the preliminary voting results, about 68% of the country's residents opposed the document.