NATO: Partnership for Peace
NATO is a political and military alliance of 32 European and North American states. Switzerland has cooperated with NATO since 1996 through the Partnership for Peace. This partnership promotes political dialogue and practical cooperation, allowing Switzerland to advance its foreign and security policy interests and contribute to European security.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is one of the fundamental organizations for security policy issues in Europe. Its strategic concept encompasses collective defence (as part of the obligation to assist enshrined in the treaty), crisis management and cooperative security. In addition, NATO is a central instrument for the transformation of armed forces and their adaptation to the challenges of the 21st century. Since the start of the war against Ukraine in 2022, collective defence and deterrence have once again become the focus of the Alliance.
Partnership for Peace (PfP)
PfP is a flexible instrument for cooperation between NATO and its partner countries. States from Eastern and Southern Europe, the South Caucasus, Central Asia and Western Europe (including the four neutral Western European countries Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, and Malta), take part in the PfP.
Participation in PfP is voluntary and is determined by the respective partner itself. Every four years, the Federal Council defines the content of Switzerland's cooperation within the PfP. In particular, it sets out the principles governing cooperation, the priorities and objectives of cooperation, the activities proposed by Switzerland to other PfP countries, and the activities in which Switzerland wishes to participate.
PfP and its significance for Swiss foreign policy
The PfP provides Switzerland with an additional framework for dialogue on security policy issues with other countries within its strategic sphere. This is important given that Switzerland is one of the few countries in Europe that belongs neither to the European Union (EU), which has its own common security and defence policy, nor to NATO.
In addition, by participating in selected exercises, Switzerland can strengthen its defence capabilities and prepare its armed forces for participation in peace support operations abroad under the leadership of NATO, the EU or the United Nations (UN).
Switzerland regularly offers training courses and seminars to partner countries and participates in technical support projects.
Links
Permanent Mission of Switzerland to NATO in Brussels
The FDFA maintains a mission in Brussels to represent Swiss interests at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
Contact
State Secretariat STS-FDFA
Effingerstrasse 27
3003 Bern