Discorso del consigliere federale Martin Pfister in occasione della celebrazione per l’anniversario dei Centri ginevrini
Ginevra, 18.09.2025 — Discorso del consigliere federale Martin Pfister, capo del Dipartimento federale della difesa, della protezione della popolazione e dello sport (DDPS), in occasione della celebrazione per l’anniversario dei Centri ginevrini, Ginevra, giovedì 18 settembre 2025.
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Madame la Conseillère d’État, Monsieur le Maire, Monsieur le Secrétaire d’État, Madame la Directrice, Messieurs les Directeurs, Excellences, Mesdames et Messieurs,
C'est un vrai plaisir et un honneur de célébrer avec vous aujourd'hui deux anniversaires et trois institutions phares : le Centre de politique de sécurité de Genève, créé il y a 30 ans, le Centre pour la gouvernance du secteur de la sécurité, créé il y a 25 ans, et le Centre international de déminage humanitaire de Genève. Ils constituent une pierre angulaire de la contribution de la Suisse à la paix et à la sécurité mondiales.
An anniversary is a moment to pause and reflect. We honour the achievements of the past decades and we look ahead to the challenges to come. In my remarks, I wish to pay tribute to the Centres as key players for International Geneva, as well as to the Centres’ importance for Switzerland’s own foreign and security policy. However, as an historian, I can’t help starting with history…
After the Cold War, Switzerland found itself in a changing geopolitical environment, with newly emerging threats. It partially re-invented its foreign and security policy, with a focus on promoting peace through cooperation and mutual assistance.
So Switzerland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace, and created the Centres in that context – as a contribution to the partnership. And as a way for Switzerland, as a neutral country, to contribute meaningfully to international peace and burden-sharing.
It is important to remember those who laid the foundations – above all Theodor Winkler, whose vision and energy were decisive for the creation of a unique Geneva constellation.
And today? The contributions of the three Centres are tangible. They are as relevant now as when the Centres were founded:
The Geneva Centre for Security Policy GCSP brings together hundreds of practitioners each year. It offers courses and simulations on cyberattacks, energy risks, arms control and crisis management. It builds networks and opens space for dialogue – especially when official channels are blocked. Its global alumni community, now more than 12,000 strong, carries this expertise into its work with governments, international organisations and peace processes worldwide.
The Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance DCAF helps states build security institutions that are effective, accountable and citizen-centred. It advises parliaments on defence budgets, supports their oversight of intelligence services, and develops training programmes for police and armed forces. From parliamentary budget control in Mali, to police training in Jordan or international standards for intelligence services in Georgia – DCAF’s work is practical, precise, and rooted in the rule of law.
The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining GICHD develops global standards for humanitarian demining and provides tools that save lives in more than 40 countries. It hosts the secretariats of the Ottawa and Oslo Conventions – a visible Swiss contribution to humanitarian law and the protection of civilians.
And today, GICHD’s expertise is directly helping Ukraine, where mines contaminate vast areas. Here, our Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs are working hand in hand.
These are not abstract contributions. They are tangible gains for human security and for the stability and security of our global environment.
As such, the three Centres are pillars of International Geneva. They are part of a unique fabric that weaves together diplomacy, international organisations, research and civil society.
They make Geneva not only a meeting place, but a working place: where instruments, standards and training programmes are developed; where innovation hubs incubate new approaches to emerging challenges; and where bridges are built when official channels are paralysed.
The Centres also connect Geneva to New York – linking political debates at UN global headquarters with the technical and humanitarian expertise based here in Geneva. This bridge ensures that global policies are informed by real-world experience.
While originally created as a Swiss contribution to the international community, the Centres have also become vital instruments for Swiss foreign and security policy. They help train our own officers and diplomats.
They allow Switzerland and other supporters to facilitate dialogue where others cannot – for instance, in the GCSP’s track-two initiatives on Syria and Ukraine. They help us assume responsibilities in multilateral fora – from Switzerland’s recent tenure on the UN Security Council to our upcoming OSCE Chairmanship in 2026.
The Centres extend Switzerland’s reach, increasing the goodwill towards and access to our diplomacy. While still deeply rooted in Switzerland, the Centres have turned into institutions with a global footprint and global support.
As we all know: the challenges ahead will not be easier. In Europe, war is being waged with brutal force. We must take greater responsibility for our own security and defence than we have done in recent decades. The rivalry between great powers shapes our environment. New threats – from terrorism to cyberattacks to disinformation – are part of our daily reality.
This is why Switzerland is currently drafting a new Security Policy Strategy. It reflects a simple truth: security today is broader, more complex, and more interconnected than ever before. It requires a comprehensive approach. In their fields, the Geneva Centres embody this comprehensive approach.
They not only respond to crises – they help prevent them, and they help states become stabile after conflict. Their success and their wide international support prove that they meet a real need.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Anniversaries are not an end point – they are a new beginning. The next 25 and 30 years will be at least as demanding as the last. With their unique combination of expertise, innovation and dialogue, the Geneva Centres will remain indispensable.
I thank those who keep the Centres ahead of the curve. And I thank all states, council members and organizations contributing to their work. I look forward to continuing this journey together – sharing in our international responsibility, and investing in peace, stability and trust.
Thank you very much.