Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation

04/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/17/2024 09:08

State Secretary Alexandre Fasel leads third strategic partnership dialogue between Switzerland and US

State Secretary Alexandre Fasel received a US delegation for political consultations in Bern on 17 April. The delegation was led by Assistant Secretary James O'Brien, who is in charge of European and Eurasian affairs at the US Department of State. On the agenda were the many ongoing or recently concluded bilateral negotiations, particularly in the area of taxation, which are concrete examples of the dynamism of bilateral relations.

The meeting on 17 April 2024 constitutes the third strategic partnership dialogue between Switzerland and the United States. The signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2022 established this format of high-level discussions, providing an opportunity for the two countries to take stock of their very close, fruitful relations. Mr Fasel was accompanied by a delegation of specialists from the FDFA, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research and the Federal Department of Finance.

Discussions focused, among other things, on common priorities on financial matters, flows of goods and services, digital foreign policy, and the promotion of democracy and human rights. Mr Fasel and Mr O'Brien exchanged views on recent international events, particularly in Ukraine, the Middle East and East Asia. They also touched on the importance of transatlantic relations for Switzerland's security and prosperity. Cooperation in multilateral forums, in particular the UN Security Council, is another key aspect of bilateral relations. The discussions will be continued on 22 April when Ambassador Thomas Gürber, deputy state secretary of the FDFA, meets the US assistant secretary of state for international organisation affairs, Ambassador Michele Sison.
The United States is a key partner for Switzerland in the political, commercial, fiscal, scientific and cultural spheres. The two countries also have close links in the fields of research and training. The Federal Council's Americas Strategy 2022-2025 envisages the institutionalisation of high-level exchanges. The aim of these meetings is to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries in international forums, in the search for solutions to global problems and in mitigating regional crises.

Further information:

Americas Strategy 2022-2025
Bilateral relations Switzerland-United States of America

Address for enquiries:

FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs