IRIA News

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Switzerland received formal approval from the European Union to participate in a key multinational cybersecurity initiative under the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework.

This development signals a deepening of Swiss–EU defense ties at a time of heightened European focus on cybersecurity and regional security resilience. The EU Council confirmed this week that Switzerland will join the Cyber Ranges Federations project, a program led by Estonia that aims to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities among participating nations.

With this step, Switzerland becomes the first neutral country to take part in this specific PESCO project, despite its longstanding commitment to military neutrality.

The Swiss government lauded the move. In a statement following the announcement, it said the country “will take part in the European PESCO project.” Swiss officials emphasized that their participation would remain targeted and aligned with national interests. “Participation will take place selectively and, on a needs-oriented basis,” the government stated.

Strategic shift in Swiss defense engagement

The Cyber Ranges Federations initiative is designed to centralize and enhance cybersecurity training infrastructure, pooling resources from member states to automate processes, streamline joint exercises, and accelerate the development of cutting-edge cyber defense technologies. The project includes member states such as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and Estonia.

For Switzerland, this marks a practical and symbolic expansion of its defense engagement, built on the foundation of its Swiss Cyber Training Range and Cyber-Defense Campus, which have seen growing investments in recent years. The country’s cybersecurity posture has become a critical area of concern, especially amid rising digital threats in the post-Ukraine war security environment.

Two formal procedural steps remain before Switzerland becomes a full-fledged participant: Estonia must extend a formal invitation to Bern, and both parties must establish an “administrative arrangement” to govern cooperation. This will cover key formalities such as data exchange and legal frameworks for joint activity.

Balancing neutrality with security

Switzerland’s move into PESCO territory raises sensitive questions about its policy of armed neutrality. However, Swiss defense planners have been clear in their rationale. Participation in such initiatives is viewed as “ad hoc collaboration on specific projects which are thematically in the interest of both parties and which do not create critical dependencies for neutrality,” federal officials explained.

The EU Council underscored that Switzerland met all the necessary political, legal, and security criteria to participate, describing the country’s inclusion as bringing “substantial added value and mutual benefit” to the Cyber Ranges Federations project. Importantly, the Council retains oversight over all third-party participation and can revise conditions if security dynamics shift in the future.

Under PESCO’s third-state participation rules, established in 2020, non-EU countries are permitted to join specific projects if they align with EU values and do not present a threat to the bloc’s security. Switzerland’s application was submitted in October 2024, shortly after a similar application to participate in the EU Military Mobility project, which aims to enhance the movement of troops and equipment across European borders.

Context of growing international engagement

The Cyber Ranges project is not Switzerland’s first foray into EU defense initiatives. Earlier this year, Switzerland received the EU’s green light to join the Military Mobility project, reflecting a broader strategic interest in selective cooperation on initiatives aligned with national defense priorities.

That initiative also reflects practical needs, ensuring Swiss military units can move efficiently across borders during crises or multinational operations, even if Switzerland does not belong to the EU or NATO. Other non-EU countries involved in that project include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Norway.

Additionally, Switzerland has been part of NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) program since the 1990s, alongside Austria, another traditionally neutral state. Both countries have participated in peacekeeping and training operations under the PfP umbrella without joining the alliance outright.

Domestic political tensions

Despite the Swiss government’s emphasis on selective engagement, opposition voices at home have expressed growing concern about what they view as the erosion of Switzerland’s neutrality.

This concern was amplified following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In 2024, a civil society movement amassed over 130,000 certified signatures to trigger a national referendum to reinforce Switzerland’s neutrality. The initiative seeks to constitutionally restrict participation in military alliances or international defense projects that could compromise Switzerland’s independent status.

Critics of deeper integration argue that cooperation sets a precedent that risks spiraling into commitments inconsistent with the country’s historic stance. They worry that Switzerland may become entangled in defense frameworks that could lead to indirect involvement in future conflicts.

Nonetheless, federal officials continue to push back against such fears, emphasizing that Switzerland’s participation is neither automatic nor comprehensive. Each PESCO project is reviewed individually, with national interests and neutrality principles serving as the guiding criteria.

Switzerland’s move to join the EU’s Cyber Ranges Federations project is more than a symbolic gesture, it is a substantive shift in the country’s defense policy posture. While Switzerland remains officially neutral, it is increasingly willing to engage in international security initiatives that enhance its capabilities and serve mutual European interests.

This delicate balancing act between sovereignty, neutrality, and international cooperation may define Swiss defense policy in the coming years. With cyber threats growing in scale and sophistication, the need for joint action, even among neutral states, appears more urgent than ever.