Foreign policy

In 2023 and 2024, Switzerland has a seat on the UN Security Council, where it is contributing its expertise in global peace and security to discussions and debates. In October 2024, Switzerland holds the council presidency. Scroll the newsticker for background information about Switzerland's Security Council activities and statements.

In October 2024, Switzerland will hold for the second time the presidency of the UN Security Council. As during its first presidency, it will place two of its priorities – "promoting lasting peace" and "protecting civilian populations" – at the heart of the Council's work. What does the presidency mean for Switzerland? We provide an overview of Switzerland's powers, practices and priorities during its month-long presidency of the Security Council.

From the Ukraine Recovery Conference in July 2022 in Lugano to the Summit on Peace in Ukraine in June 2024 on the Bürgenstock: Switzerland is committed to a peaceful solution to the war and is fully behind the political process of Ukraine's recovery. It is also implementing a variety of measures to help support people affected by the war. More on Switzerland's work in Ukraine in the newsfeed.

The use of digital technologies is one of the most important contemporary developments in the field of armed conflicts. What are the risks and opportunities linked to this evolution? Are the Geneva Conventions, adopted 75 years ago, still adequate to address these developments? Philippe Stoll, senior delegate for techplomacy at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), sheds light on these issues.

The Geneva Conventions, the cornerstone of international humanitarian law, were adopted on 12 August 1949. Seventy-five years on, how does Switzerland assess these universally ratified treaties? In the following interview, Franz Perrez, director of the Directorate of International Law (DIL) at the FDFA, takes stock of the situation and explains Switzerland's efforts to implement and promote compliance with the Conventions.

On 15 and 16 June 2024, Switzerland organised a Summit on Peace in Ukraine at the Bürgenstock. The aim of the summit was to develop a common understanding of a possible path to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. All news on the summit can be found here in the ticker.