Mar 22, 2023 · Viola Amherd, Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, visited NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (22 March 2023) for talks with Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and to meet with NATO ambassadors. Her participation in the North Atlantic Council was the first-ever by a Swiss defence minister.

Apr 1, 2021 · Switzerland has supported NATO-led operations in the Balkans, where it is a long-standing contributor to the Kosovo Force. The country also supported the operation in Afghanistan from 2004 to 2007. Switzerland shares its expertise with NATO by offering education and training to Allies and other partner countries.

From 4 to 5 December 2023, the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Bauer was in Switzerland for an official visit at the invitation of its Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Thomas Süssli. The Chair also met with Federal Councillor Viola Amherd, Head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), and delivered a …

Oct 29, 2021 · NATO and Switzerland actively cooperate in several important areas, including the promotion of human security, defence institution building and the development and maintenance of capabilities of the Swiss armed forces to work with those of NATO and other partner countries in multinational peace-support operations.

Secretary General: Switzerland is a valued NATO partner. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed the value of the Alliance’s partnership with Switzerland during a visit to Bern and Geneva on Wednesday and Thursday (1-2 March 2017). 01 Mar. 2017 : NATO Secretary General stresses value of partnership with Switzerland

Mar 11, 2024 · NATO was created by 12 countries from Europe and North America on 4 April 1949. Since then, 20 more countries have joined NATO through 10 rounds of enlargement (in 1952, 1955, 1982, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2024). Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty sets out how countries can join the Alliance.

Switzerland has helped many NATO partners in building democratic defence institutions and provides support for NATO’s peace-keeping efforts in Kosovo. Within NATO, Switzerland has helped to shape thinking and policies on human security issues, including to promote the role of women in peace and security.

On January 15, 16 and 17, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Jens Stoltenberg, will attend the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Mr Stoltenberg will participate in a plenary session.

Graph 1 : NATO Europe and Canada - defence expenditure (annual real change, based on 2015 prices and exchange rates) Graph 2 – Number of Allies meeting 2% Notes: Data as at 12 June 2024, based on 2015 prices and exchange rates. Figures for 2023 and 2024 are estimates. The NATO Europe and Canada aggregate from 2017 onwards

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stressed the importance of cooperative security and building stronger security partnerships during talks with Swiss government leaders on Thursday (22 November).