On 30 December 2024, Ian Borg, the Maltese foreign minister and OSCE chairperson-in-office, has announced Switzerland's election as chair for 2026.
Switzerland is taking over the leadership of the OSCE at a difficult time for the organisation, owing to geopolitical developments and Russia's war of aggression on Ukraine. The fact that a participating state of the OSCE is at war with another participating state severely restricts the organisation's room for manoeuvre. In assuming the chairpersonship, Switzerland underscores how essential it is to ensure dialogue and cooperation with all participating states, especially in politically difficult times. Several participating states had asked Switzerland beforehand to stand as a candidate.
The leadership of the OSCE is usually ensured by a troika consisting of the preceding, the current and the succeeding chair. Switzerland will therefore form the troika together with Malta and Finland from January and will be primarily responsible for relations with the Mediterranean states outside the OSCE in 2025. The tasks of the troika also include personnel decisions.
With 57 participating states, the Vienna-based OSCE is the world's largest regional security organisation. Its focus is on overcoming differences and building trust. Switzerland has been a member of the OSCE since 1973, when the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) opened in Helsinki. It was renamed the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 1994.
Further information:
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
OSCE announces Switzerland’s 2026 OSCE Chairpersonship
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