Switzerland is deepening its defense cooperation with the European Union by assuming a new, strategically significant role in cybersecurity. According to an EU statement released this week, the country has been granted permission to participate in a multinational project aimed at strengthening military cyber defenses.
This decision enables Switzerland to join the Cyber Ranges Federation initiative, launched by Estonia under the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework. The move marks a notable escalation in military collaboration between Switzerland and the EU, despite Bern’s longstanding policy of strict military neutrality. The Swiss government welcomed the EU’s decision, emphasizing its intent to engage in PESCO projects selectively and in alignment with national priorities. The initiative already includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Italy, and Luxembourg. Bern argues that participation in the cyber project will allow Switzerland to contribute expertise while gaining access to cutting-edge knowledge and infrastructure – without entangling the country in broader EU defense commitments.
In recent years, Switzerland has steadily expanded its cyber defense capabilities, evidenced by the establishment of the Swiss Cyber Training Center and the Cybersecurity Campus.