Fact check: Which countries have remained neutral in recent global conflicts?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses, several countries have maintained neutral positions in recent global conflicts, though the definition and practice of neutrality varies significantly.

Traditional Neutral Countries:

• Switzerland stands out as the most established neutral state, with permanent neutrality dating back to 1815 ^[1]. Switzerland has maintained its neutral stance in recent conflicts, including the Israel-Iran tensions, with Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis condemning the use of force and calling for restraint ^[2].
• Austria has remained neutral in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy securing a pledge of non-military support from the country. However, Austria has backed EU sanctions on Moscow and pledged reconstruction assistance ^[3].

Other Neutral States:

The analyses identify between 8 to 14 countries as neutral, including Austria, Costa Rica, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Malta, Iceland, Turkmenistan, and various microstates like Vatican City, Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino ^[4]. Additional countries mentioned include Mexico and Japan ^[5].

Recent Conflict-Specific Neutrality:

• Cyprus has maintained neutrality in the Israel-Iran conflict, with President Nikos Christodoulides stating Cyprus "is not involved in any way" and emphasizing its "stabilising and humanitarian" role ^[6].
• Oman has taken a neutral diplomatic stance, with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik calling for de-escalation and negotiations in the Israel-Iran crisis ^[7].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several crucial contextual elements:

Evolving Nature of Neutrality:

Switzerland has updated its neutrality policy "to fit the evolution of the geopolitical context while protecting its national interests" ^[1], indicating that neutrality is not static but adapts to changing circumstances.

Degrees of Neutrality:

The analyses reveal that neutrality exists on a spectrum. While Austria maintains military neutrality, it still supports EU sanctions against Russia and provides non-military aid to Ukraine ^[3]. This demonstrates that "neutral" countries may still take economic or diplomatic positions.

International Legal Framework:

The concept of neutrality is governed by international law, specifically the Hague Convention of 1907 ^[5], which provides guidelines that many self-proclaimed neutral states may not strictly follow.

Global Response Context:

At least 32 countries have provided Ukraine with military assistance ^[8], highlighting that the majority of nations have chosen sides rather than remaining neutral, making true neutrality increasingly rare.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral and factual, seeking information rather than making claims. However, it contains an implicit assumption that may be misleading:

Oversimplification of Neutrality:

The question assumes neutrality is a binary state, when the analyses show it's more nuanced. Countries like Austria demonstrate that neutrality can coexist with economic sanctions and humanitarian support ^[3].

Temporal Ambiguity:

The phrase "recent global conflicts" is vague and could benefit from specification. The analyses cover different conflicts (Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Iran) occurring at different times, and countries' neutral positions may vary between conflicts.

Missing Scale Context:

The question doesn't acknowledge that truly neutral countries represent a small minority globally. With at least 32 countries providing military aid to Ukraine alone ^[8], the question might inadvertently suggest neutrality is more common than it actually is in practice.