Switzerland

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A nation defined by staunch armed neutrality and, in the eyes of some, inactivity, Switzerland remains the sole independent nation in Europe after the creation of the European Federation. Although it provided little in the way of support during the Human-Vannai War, Switzerland has played a critical role in hosting Hanse Behörde after its eviction from Germany in early 2019, and continued to act as a neutral ground for diplomacy between the European Federation and the Armor Corps Coalition. 
==History==
===Pre-War===
Located in central Europe as a crossroads between France, Germany, Austria and Italy, modern Switzerland was formed in 1848 following the Sonderbund War, after which the Swiss cantons were united as the federated state of Switzerland. The Swiss Confederation's history since then has been one of consistent success and prosperity, largely avoiding the devastation of both World Wars due to its neutrality in both conflicts and the success of the global banking industry afterwards. It has played a prominent role on hosting various international organizations and agreements observed over the past 200 years. In spite of this, the Swiss people have been reluctant to participate in said agreements themselves for the most part; although it joined the United Nations in 2002 and joined the Schengen treaty in 2005 for free movement of persons throughout Europe, it never became a member of the European Union.
===Human-Vannai War===
Due to a combination of certain geographical advantages and well-planned disaster/invasion response contingencies, the Swiss government was relatively unscathed by the Two Week War. Their contributions to the Human-Vannai War at large were relatively minimal, and the country considers its abstinence from international war since 1815 to be unbroken, with the Human-Vannai War being regarded as a "global" war.
===Post-War===
After the end of the Human-Vannai War in 2017, Europe remained stressed by the chaos caused by the invasion. Although Hanse appeared to be in control of the situation, the fluctuating balance of power between the Anglo-German Alliance, the Scandinavian Federation, and the rest of Europe ended in an alignment of the former powers into the European Federation with curious swiftness. Switzerland offered Hanse amnesty following their ousting from Germany and has continued to host the ACC faction since early 2019. 
==Government==
Switzerland is a confederacy of two dozen federated states called cantons, which cooperate with significant independence allowed by the Swiss constitution. Each canton has its own constitution, parliament, government police and courts. Direct democracy remains a core tenant of Swiss politics, allowing citizens to decide on policy initiatives directly.
==Policies==
===Military===
Switzerland's armed forces have largely consisted of conscripts, with a relatively small percentage of professional soldiers at its core. However, conscription is universal to all males of age, and conscripts are required to maintain their equipment and weapons at home or in an armory. As a result, Switzerland possesses a potentially formidable militia force. The country underwent significant fortification during the Cold War, and although many of these fortifications were dismantled in the 1980s and 1990s, the many shelters that remained directly contributed to Switzerland's endurance of a conflict that turned most of Europe to cinders. In step with the rest of Europe's rearmament through 2015-2016, many of these defenses and fortifications were rebuilt and modernized, and in light of the aggressive foreign policy of the European Federation that now surrounds the country, Switzerland shows no sign of relaxing its guard.
Switzerland maintains an Army of three mechanized brigades, and an Air Force with five airbases.
===Economic===
Aside from watches and clocks, Switzerland has been a major producer and exporter of industrial chemicals, precision machinery, and prior to the war had an extremely competitive pharmaceutical industry. The monolithic European Federation is Switzerland's primary trading partner.
===Diplomacy===
In terms of allegiance, Switzerland represents the only stable nation in Europe other than Romania that is not under the control of the European Federation, and serves as an intermediary for diplomacy between the EuF and ACC through Hanse.
Category:PACYOA: TE
Category:TE Nations
Category:Europe