30 years of the Partnership for Peace: visit to Switzerland by ambassadors from NATO member states
Bern, 23.10.2026 — To mark the 30th anniversary of the Partnership for Peace between Switzerland and NATO, representatives from 27 NATO member states visited Switzerland from 21 to 23 October. The focus was on the long-standing cooperation with NATO and its further development in light of the changing security situation in Europe. The ambassadors were given an insight into specific aspects of Swiss security policy and cooperation with NATO. The visit also provided an opportunity for high-level discussions.
Switzerland has been participating in NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) for 30 years. The PfP was established in 1996 and has proved to be a valuable framework for international cooperation on security policy. It enables Switzerland to engage in regular dialogue with NATO and its member states and provides a framework for cooperation based on mutual interest.
To mark this anniversary, the permanent representatives of 27 of the 32 NATO member states based in Brussels travelled to Switzerland. Their visit gave them an insight into key areas of Swiss security policy. The focus was on innovation, including a visit to ETH Zurich's innovation campus; the protection of critical infrastructure; the Swiss Armed Forces' SWISSINT centre for peace support operations abroad; resilience and civil protection; and the defence industry, explored through discussions with several Swiss companies and start-ups. Other items on the programme focused on the Swiss Armed Forces and the Swiss militia system. The delegation visited an army exercise, the Cyber Command and the armasuisse drone and robotics centre. The visit enabled Switzerland to demonstrate how, as a neutral country, it makes tangible contributions to international security while at the same time further developing its own capabilities.
Switzerland's security policy context has changed fundamentally in recent years. Russia's war against Ukraine marks a turning point and has significantly exacerbated the security situation in Europe. With the Security Policy Strategy 2026, the Federal Council is taking this development into account. It focuses on enhancing Switzerland's resilience, improving protection and prevention measures, further developing Swiss defence capabilities, and strengthening international cooperation in the field of defence. The itinerary of the visit highlighted how these areas are interlinked and how Switzerland contributes both to its own security and to NATO's priorities.
Political dialogue and practical cooperation
Federal Councillor Martin Pfister, the head of the DDPS, Markus Mäder, the state secretary for security policy, and Benedikt Roos, chief of the Swiss Armed Forces, focused on political dialogue and practical cooperation. The Federal Council's delegate for Ukraine, Jacques Gerber, then presented the country programme for Ukraine.
Switzerland's specific contributions to cooperation with NATO include the deployment of SWISSCOY as part of the Kosovo Force (KFOR), the three Geneva-based centres (the Geneva Centre for Security Policy, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining and the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance), education and training programmes, support for Ukraine, and research and technology projects. Through the 2025–28 partnership programme (Individually Tailored Partnership Programme), Switzerland is focusing on the areas of interoperability, the defence industry and innovation, resilience, and the protection of critical infrastructure.