Discussions on European security issues at the negotiating venues in Switzerland (1945–1991)

Switzerland has always been known as a mediator in the international relations. This makes it a unique player on the world arena, striving to maintain distance from international conflicts. Today, the Confederation plays an important part in European security. There are many reasons for this: the country is located in the centre of Europe, it is of strategic and economic interest to the European countries, and cooperation with Europe is natural for Switzerland. The Confederation is the headquarters for many international organizations, committees and agencies that discuss European security. By occupying the niche of a mediator, Switzerland has become an active participant in international relations. In the context of globalization and the intensified conflicts between countries, neutrality is becoming a key strategy for ensuring stability and security. Neutral states are demonstrating a unique approach to its transformation, making this a highly topical issue.

The source base of the article includes the documents from the Swiss government agencies, the Swiss Federal Archives, and the Dodis diplomatic database. An assessment is given of the historical development of neutrality during the periods in question. N.S. Khrushchev’s memoirs of his visit to Switzerland in 1955 are examined. Based on these materials, an overview of the Swiss foreign policy is provided and the evaluation of Switzerland’s contribution to the discussion of European security is given.

1. Arbatov, A. and Dvorkin, V., eds. (2009), Yadernoe rasprostranenie: novye tekhnologii, vooruzheniya i dogovory [Nuclear proliferation: new technologies, weapons, and treaties], ROSSPEN, Moscow, Russia.

2. Bonjour, E. (1946), Swiss Neutrality. Its History and Meaning, Allen & Unwin, London, UK.

3. Fischer, T. (2004), Die Rolle der Schweiz in der Iran-Geiselkreise 1979–1981. Eine Studie zur Politik der Gute Dienste im Kalten Krieg, Forschungsstelle für Sicherheitspolitik, Zürich, Switzerland. (Zürcher Beiträge zur Sicherheitspolitik und Konfliktforschung Series; Bd. 73)

4. Khasanov, A. (2023), “Switzerland’s good offices in light of the American hostage– taking in Iran (1979–1981)”, Genesis: istoricheskie issledovaniya, no. 6, pp. 37–52.

5. Klöti, U., Knoepfel, P., Kriesi, H., Linder, W. and Papadopoulos, Ya. (2004),Handbook of Swiss Politics, Neue Zürcher Zeitun, Zürich, Switzerland.

6. Savelyev, A.G. (2008), “Strategic relations between Russia and the United States”, Mezhdunarodnaya zhizn’, no. 11, pp. 33–45.

7. Schindler, D., ed. (1984), Dokumente zur schweizerischen Neutralität seit 1945. Berichte und Stellungnahmen der schweizerischen Bundesbehörden zu Fragen der Neutralität 1945–1983, Haupt, Bern, Switzerland, Stuttgart, Germany. (Schriftenreihe der Schweizerischen Gesellschaft für Aussenpolitik; Bd. 9)

8. Sindeev, A.A. (2021), “The origins of European security: the neutrality factor in the early 1970s”, Sovremennaya Evropa, no. 3, pp. 71–82.

9. Späni-Schleidt, J. (1983), Die Interpretation der daurernden Neutralität durch das schweizerische und das österreichische Parlament, Haupt, Bern, Switzerland, Stuttgart, Germany, XXI, 358 S. (Schriftenreihe der Schweizer Gesellschaft für Außenpolitik; vol. 8)