Published on 25 July 2023

Switzerland and Partnership for Peace: Why Switzerland is involved in the programme

For Switzerland the Partnership for Peace programme is an instrument for cooperation with NATO and other partner states selectively and according to its own security policy interests. Cooperation is always voluntary and is determined by the partner itself.

In the Partnership for Peace programme Switzerland is able to bring in its interests vis-a-vis NATO and other partner states and benefits from the exchange of information and experience. Many current threats and dangers are not limited to national borders. Therefore, the Euro-Atlantic states face similar security policy challenges that they are often only able to resolve jointly. So NATO and its partners have a common interest in dialoguing, sharing information and military interoperability.

Switzerland’s participation in the Partnership for Peace programme has been augmented with the foundation of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council in 1997. It enables an institutionalised security policy dialogue with NATO.