Symposium for Swiss Staff Officers

The Context

Since the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine and the significant transformations of the global security landscape that stemmed from it, the GCSP offers strategic viewpoints and insights into the rapidly evolving global security landscape during a annual one day symposium.

The Aim

The symposium aims to provide an overview of the evolving global security landscape and trends in international politics, examining their implications for the international system and national security. International and GCSP experts offer global perspectives external to the Swiss security ecosystem.

Editions

The first edition was held in Bern in June 2023 and was entitled War in Europe: Global Perspectives for Military Leaders. During this symposium, 85 general staff officers from the Swiss Armed Forces were offered strategic viewpoints and insights into the implications of war. The day was comprised presentations on potential future scenarios, expert panel discussions on the geopolitical implications of the conflict and interactive workshops during which GCSP experts discussed future challenges related to defense postures, modern warfare, and non-military security threats to global security.

In October 2024, the GCSP organised the second edition of the Symposium for Swiss Staff Officers in Luzern. Titled A Fragmented World: Challenges in International Security, this edition provided over 120 general staff officers with strategic insights into the rapidly evolving global security landscape. Conducted in German, English, and French, the symposium featured a series of panels and discussions examining:

  • Shifts in the international order and their geopolitical implications for key regions;
  • Global security challenges, including evolving defense postures, economic fragmentation, and the importance of strategic foresight in addressing emerging threats such as climate change;
  • The evolving nature of conflict, with a focus on new domain of conflicts and the role of new technologies in shaping security dynamics.