Switzerland's accession to the Protocol to the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal was approved by the Swiss Federal Council earlier this week. The protocol guarantees that all nations can pass through the Panama Canal at all times openly and securely. The 1977 Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal, between Panama and the United States, establishes the Panama Canal's neutrality.
This signifies that the Panama Canal must be secure and open to the peaceful transit of vessels of all nations in both peace and war. This is intended to prevent the canal from becoming the target of armed conflict between nations.
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The Federal Council stated that the neutrality of the Panama Canal is a distinct form of neutrality from that of nation-states. 'Countries that sign the protocol undertake to observe and respect the permanent neutrality of the Panama Canal. They also ensure that vessels registered under their flag comply with the treaty's rules."Switzerland will not have any new rights or obligations as a result of the accession, according to the council.
The Federal Council is the cabinet of the Swiss Confederation. Its seven members collectively serve as the head of state and government of Switzerland. Since World War II, the Federal Council has been a permanent grand coalition government by convention, composed of representatives of the country's major parties and language regions.
Each term of office lasts four years and is elected by the Federal Assembly of Switzerland. The Federal Council is not subject to recall or a vote of no confidence. Incumbents are not subject to term limits and are almost always re-elected by convention; most serve around eight to twelve years in office.
The Organisation of American States (OAS or OEA) is an international organisation established on 30 April 1948 to encourage collaboration between its member states in the Americas. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the OAS is a "multilateral regional body focused on human rights, electoral oversight, social and economic development, and security in the Western Hemisphere". It is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States. As of November 2023, 32 states in the Americas are members of the OAS.
# OAS #The Federal Council #Panama Canal #Switzerland # Protocol #World War II #Permanent #Washington, D.C.
28 November 2025
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