Switzerland to take over OSCE chairpersonship in 2026
The OSCE participating states have approved by consensus Switzerland's candidacy for the chairmanship of the organisation in 2026, thereby adopting another important institutional decision for the OSCE.
On 30 December 2024, the Maltese Foreign Minister Ian Borg announced Switzerland's election as OSCE Chair for 2026. Switzerland will thus chair the OSCE for the third time, having already held this role in 1996 and 2014. As a member of the Troika, which consists of the 2024 (Malta), 2025 (Finland) and 2026 (Switzerland) chairmanships, Switzerland will take on its first leadership functions in the OSCE as early as 1 January 2025 and will be responsible for relations with non-OSCE Mediterranean states during that year.
Switzerland takes over the chairpersonship of the world's largest regional security organisation at a time when the OSCE is going through difficult times due to current geopolitical developments. Since its foundation, Switzerland has consistently defended the OSCE as a central player in the European security landscape and is committed to safeguarding the principles, values and functioning of the organisation. By taking on the chairpersonship, Switzerland is emphasising that cooperation and communication between all 57 participating States is essential, especially in politically difficult times.