High-level conference on peace in Ukraine: military support and airspace restriction
Bern, 22.05.2024 - At its meeting on 22 May, the Federal Council approved a temporary restriction on the use of airspace during the high-level conference on peace in Ukraine, which Switzerland will be hosting on 15 and 16 June at the Bürgenstock resort in the canton of Nidwalden. The Swiss Air Force will provide air policing and advanced air surveillance services. The Armed Forces will also set up a subsidiary support service to complement the security measures of the cantonal authorities.
As part of the security measures surrounding the peace conference, which will be held in the canton of Nidwalden on 15 and 16 June, the Federal Council has approved a temporary restriction of airspace in the Bürgenstock region. This measure is necessary to ensure the security of the high-level international conference. Under international law, Switzerland has an obligation to ensure the safety of guests in need of special protection.
The airspace restriction will apply from 8am local time on 13 June until 8pm local time on 17 June, and will be limited to the airspace around the Bürgenstock resort. The Swiss Air Force will provide air policing and advanced airspace surveillance services. The airspace will be restricted for visual flight rules (VFR) and non-commercial instrument flight rules (IFR) traffic, and for pilotless aircraft.
Contribution of the Armed Forces
The Federal Council also approved the deployment of up to 4,000 military personnel to support the cantonal authorities in Nidwalden. The Armed Forces will support the cantonal police, particularly in the areas of property protection, surveillance, reconnaissance and logistics, and will provide Nidwalden with equipment and vehicles. These measures will complement the security measures taken by the cantonal authorities and should not entail any additional costs for the Confederation. The number of military personnel to be deployed is due to the difficulty of the terrain and the scale of the mission, and in particular the number of assets to be protected.
Article 70 para. 2 of the Armed Forces Act (ArmA) states that the Federal Assembly must approve the deployment of members of the Armed Forces at its next session if more than 2,000 people are involved or the deployment lasts longer than three weeks. If the mission is completed before the next session, the Federal Council must submit a dispatch to the Federal Assembly. As the time between now and the conference is too short, the Federal Council will submit a dispatch to the Federal Assembly for the autumn session.
Other contributions by the DDPS
The Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) will support the conference in the areas of communication security, monitoring of the civil protection and radiological situation, and protection against nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) incidents. Partner organisations will be kept informed of the situation through the National Emergency Operations Centre. Before and during the conference, monitoring for radioactive emissions will be intensified, in particular with the help of NBC specialists from Spiez Laboratory. The FOCP will also provide advice and additional infrastructure to ensure secure communications between the various response services.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will provide a communication platform for the federal and cantonal services involved. On this platform, the NCSC will report on cyberthreat developments during the conference. An emergency centre for technical analyses will also be set up.
The Federal Intelligence Service (FIS) will provide situation assessments to support an intelligence network that will work under its direction. The FIS will also assist in the early identification and prevention of threats.
Address for enquiries
DDPS Communications
kommunikation@gs-vbs.admin.ch
+41 58 464 50 58
Publisher
The Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html
General Secretariat DDPS
https://www.vbs.admin.ch/
Defence
http://www.vtg.admin.ch
National Cyber Security Centre
https://www.ncsc.admin.ch/ncsc/en/home.html
Federal Office for Civil Protection
http://www.bevoelkerungsschutz.admin.ch/
State Secretariat for Security Policy
https://www.sepos.admin.ch/de
Federal intelligence service
http://www.ndb.admin.ch
Federal Office of Civil Aviation
http://www.bazl.admin.ch
