All news (3713)
Ignazio Cassis travels to East Africa to attend Francophonie conference and strengthen relations with Rwanda
20.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
The head of the FDFA, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, was in Kigali on Thursday 20 November to attend the 46th session of the Francophonie Ministerial Conference. He also met with the Rwandan Prime Minister, Justin Nsengiyumva , Paul Kagame, and the foreign minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe. During his visit, Mr Cassis presided over a ceremony to inaugurate the new Swiss embassy in Rwanda – a symbol of the strengthening of ties between the two countries. His visit to the region will continue on 21 November in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Humanitarian crisis in Sudan: Federal Council requests emergency aid package for civilians
19.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
In view of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Sudan, the Federal Council decided at its meeting on 19 November 2025 to request an urgent supplementary credit of CHF 50 million from Parliament to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Sudan and the surrounding region. Food, drinking water and medicines are needed for the people of Sudan, whose situation has deteriorated further since the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured the town of El Fasher. The conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF has led to what is currently the worst humanitarian disaster in the world. Switzerland has provided humanitarian aid totalling CHF 140 million since the outbreak of the conflict in 2023.
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis visits Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
18.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
The head of the FDFA will visit Central and Eastern Africa from 20 to 21 November 2025. In Kigali, Mr Cassis will take part in the 46th session of the Francophonie Ministerial Conference, before inaugurating the new Swiss embassy in the city and meeting his Rwandan counterpart. He will then travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for talks with the Congolese minister of foreign affairs. Mr Cassis' visit to the DRC will focus on the conflict in the east of the country and Switzerland's efforts to promote peace, stability and development in the region.
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis attends the first Conference on the Italian Language
18.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
At the invitation of the vice-president of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Italy, Antonio Tajani, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, represented Switzerland at the first Conference on the Italian Language in Rome on 18 November 2025. The event brought together countries and communities linked by the Italian language and saw the adoption of the founding declaration of the Community of Italian Speakers. The conference was also an opportunity for Mr Cassis to meet ministers from various countries, including Romania, Kosovo, San Marino, Slovenia and Somalia as well as the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi.
Federal Councillor Cassis meets German foreign minister Wadephul in Berlin
14.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, was in Berlin from 13 to 14 October 2025, where he met Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul for official talks. The agenda covered bilateral relations and cross-border cooperation, the package of agreements between Switzerland and the EU, and geopolitical matters including the situation in Ukraine and in the Middle East. Mr Cassis also met with the German minister for economic cooperation and development, Reem Alabali Radovan.
Declaration of intent between the USA and Switzerland on US additional tariffs
14.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
Switzerland and Liechtenstein have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the United States. On this basis, the United States will reduce the country-specific additional tariff to 15%.
FDFA State Secretary Alexandre Fasel holds political consultations in Bern with Austria
13.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
State Secretary Alexandre Fasel held political consultations in Bern on 13 November 2025. His talks with Nikolaus Marschik, the secretary-general of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, focused on current geopolitical developments, bilateral issues and relations between Switzerland and the EU.
Hurricane Melissa in Caribbean: Switzerland supports efforts to restore essential services
13.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
Some two weeks after it hit the region, the impact of Hurricane Melissa continues to severely disrupt daily life for people in Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has sent support in the form of specialists and equipment, and allocated CHF 1.3 million to help meet the needs of those affected in the three countries.
Ignazio Cassis to travel to Berlin
11.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the head of the FDFA, will be in Berlin from 13 to 14 November 2025. He will meet with the German foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, and the minister for economic cooperation and development, Reem Alabali Radovan. The talks will focus on bilateral relations, European policy, geopolitical challenges, and reconstruction efforts in Ukraine and Gaza.
Switzerland and EU sign agreement on Swiss participation in EU programmes
10.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and EU Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva signed the Switzerland-EU programmes agreement in Bern on 10 November 2025. This part of the Switzerland-EU package can be provisionally applied with retroactive effect from the beginning of 2025. Switzerland is thus associated to Horizon Europe, the Euratom programme and the Digital Europe programme. The agreement also paves the way for association to ITER, Erasmus+ and EU4Health.
Switzerland reaffirms support for International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund
07.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) is a key instrument to ensure that humanitarian aid is efficient, anticipatory and localised. The fund is run by the Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is providing the DREF with CHF 6 million for the 2025-26 period.
Immediate support for US peace plan in Middle East
05.11.2025
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Press releases
EDA
At its meeting on 5 November 2025, the FDFA informed the Federal Council of the short-term measures adopted to provide support to the US peace plan for the Middle East. Switzerland is providing technical expertise in the areas of international humanitarian law, disarmament and demining. It will be stepping up its humanitarian aid to Gaza, and also aims to strengthen the Palestinian Authority. To help implement these measures, the FDFA is releasing an additional CHF 20 million in funding.
