UKRAINE: 3 QUESTIONS - 3 ANSWERS, PART 11: Neutrality?

03/08/2022By Redaktion

Bundesheer Konflikte Krieg Neutralität

Concerning the war in Ukraine, Austria's neutrality is also being discussed. But what does this actually mean?

Answers regarding Austrian neutrality:

Austria is militarily, not politically, neutral. What must we do and what are we not allowed to do?

The Neutrality Act prohibits Austria from joining military alliances and from stationing foreign soldiers on Austrian soil. In addition, there are also international legal obligations. For example, we are obligated to prevent the armed forces of a state involved in a war from using Austrian territory.

Being neutral means that Austria must be able to do everything militarily on its own and cannot rely on partners in any area. Do we therefore have to equip the military on the ground and in the air with everything that modern armies need?

Exactly. As a neutral state, the military must independently possess all capabilities to protect Austrian sovereignty and integrity - on the ground, in the air, and also in cyberspace. Integration or reliance on the armed forces of partner states is constitutionally and legally impossible.

But what happens if an EU member state is attacked, must Austria provide assistance?

Austria is obligated to provide assistance under Article 42, Paragraph 7 of the Treaty of the European Union. However, Austria is not obligated to provide military assistance due to the so-called "Irish clause". This assistance can, for example, also come in the form of political support or economic aid.

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