When the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, think of this as Napoleons insane invading spree, Europe’s great powers were tired.

And a way to protect from this debacle again was to make Switzerland permanently neutral.

• Buffer state: Prevented rival powers from sharing borders (France, Austria, Germany, Italy)
• Strategic balance: No single power controlled the Alpine passes
• Stability: Reduced friction points in post-Napoleon Europe

Switzerland, being wise, said we won’t just be neutral we will practice armed neutrality.

Universal militia: Every able-bodied male trained and kept weapons at home. The entire population could mobilize within days.

Scorched earth strategy: Infrastructure was rigged for demolition. Invade Switzerland and they’d destroy every bridge, tunnel, and pass as they retreated to mountain positions.

The calculation: You can conquer us, but you’ll gain nothing but hostile mountains with no supply lines, while your enemies exploit your distraction.

The Treaty of Paris (1815) formalized the arrangement. The great powers agreed to defend Swiss neutrality if violated.

But Switzerland understood guarantees only work when enforcement serves the guarantors’ interests. Armed neutrality meant they could hold out long enough to make intervention worthwhile.

Switzerland made invasion costly and conquest worthless. Combined with geography and international backing, neutrality became their strongest defense.

Over 200 years later, it still works.