In 2026, Switzerland will chair the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for the third time, following its chairpersonships in 1996 and 2014. Switzerland was elected by the participating states of the organisation in a secret ballot. It will assume first executive functions already from 1 January 2025: as a member of the troika – comprising the 2024 (Malta), 2025 (Finland) and 2026 (Switzerland) chairs – it will be responsible for relations with the Mediterranean states, among other things.
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.
In 2026, Switzerland will chair the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for the third time, following its chairpersonships in 1996 and 2014. Switzerland was elected by the participating states of the organisation in a secret ballot. It will assume first executive functions already from 1 January 2025: as a member of the troika – comprising the 2024 (Malta), 2025 (Finland) and 2026 (Switzerland) chairs – it will be responsible for relations with the Mediterranean states, among other things.
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.
