Switzerland hosts third NATO Partnerships 360 Symposium at Maison de la Paix in Geneva

Switzerland is the first partner nation to be tasked with organising the Partnerships 360 Symposium owing to its long-standing commitment to peace, security and dialogue, its involvement in Partnership for Peace, and the pivotal role of International Geneva.

FDFA State Secretary Livia Leu is opening the symposium together with Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Secretary General and General Christian Badia, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. Ambassador Pälvi Pulli, head of security policy at the DDPS and Chief of the Armed Forces Thomas Süssli are also attending the symposium.

The annual NATO Partnerships 360 Symposium was first held in 2018. It brings together civilian and military representatives from NATO member and partner nations. The purpose of the symposium is to facilitate dialogue on the future evolution of NATO's partnerships policy. Participants will also discuss a range of other topics, including policy dialogue, interoperability and innovation.
 
Switzerland's extensive involvement in Partnership for Peace

NATO preserves security and stability in Europe and the Euro-Atlantic area. Switzerland therefore benefits from a strong NATO. The NATO Alliance cooperates, through various structures, with a wide range of international organisations and some 40 countries.

Switzerland has been involved in NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) since 1996. The PfP provides Switzerland with an institutionalised framework for security policy dialogue with NATO, the member countries and other partner nations, including a number of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries. The PfP is also important to the Swiss Armed Forces, enabling it to develop expertise, where required, and build on its own defence capabilities and preparedness for peacekeeping and disaster assistance operations.

Because of its commitment to the PfP, Switzerland has been actively involved in past editions of the symposium, which was first held in Germany in 2018. Greece hosted the symposium in 2019 and Switzerland is now hosting the third event.

Following the adoption of NATO's new Strategic Concept at the Madrid Summit in June, the symposium provides an excellent early opportunity to discuss the future evolution of cooperation between NATO Allies and partners. It will also serve to highlight Switzerland's contribution to the PfP and promote international Geneva. 

Address for enquiries:

FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs