Swiss Armed Forces

The start-up company Pometry Ltd, domiciled in London, has been selected by the Cyber-Defence Campus of armasuisse as the winner of this year’s cyber start-up challenge. With its real-time analysis of dynamic data relationships in sectors such as finance, insurances and social networks, Pometry Ltd won over the specialist jury and defeated strong international competition. The start-up will receive an order worth up to 100,000 CHF to implement a proof of concept for its technology in the environment of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport DDPS.

At its meeting on 29 October 2025, the Federal Council approved an updated agreement between Switzerland and the European Defence Agency (EDA). The agreement has yet to be adopted by the Council of the EU. In response to the changes in the security policy environment in Europe, the Federal Council is seeking to align the agreement concluded with the EDA in 2012 more strategically with Switzerland's defence capabilities.

At its meeting on 29 October, the Federal Council decided to continue assisting the armed forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina on a bilateral basis in developing their abilities in relation to the safe storage and management of weapons and ammunition. By sending up to 10 Swiss weapons and ammunition experts, the Federal Council is ensuring that the support project, which has been running for several years, can be brought to a successful conclusion.

As part of a humanitarian operation, Switzerland is evacuating an initial group of seven injured children from the Gaza Strip to Switzerland. The children and persons accompanying them will be hosted by seven Swiss cantons, where they will receive medical treatment at university and cantonal hospitals. They will also undergo an asylum procedure in Switzerland. The humanitarian operation has been jointly organised by several federal agencies and cantons, and is being carried out in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Swiss Air-Rescue Rega.

Markus Mäder, State Secretary for Security Policy, will receive Singapore’s Permanent Secretary (Defence) Chan Heng Kee in Bern on 21 October 2025. They will discuss current security policy developments and challenges and visit the National Emergency Operations Centre.