On Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the Ministry of National Defence headquarters in Warsaw, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met with Martin Pfister, head of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport.
Photos: Krzysztof Niedziela
“We have discussed cooperation in the fields of defence, defence industry development and joint training. We have especially focused on advancing cyberdefence capabilities. This is the domain that evolves the most rapidly. Switzerland is a neutral country, but it also has an extremely interesting reservist training and civil defence system” – said the Deputy Prime Minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz after meeting the head of the Swiss Department of Defence.
The ministers spoke about education and training.
Ministrowie rozmawiali o doświadczeniach w kształceniu i szkoleniu.
“Three weeks of training per year is normal for young Swiss people. I think that this is a programme that is worth taking inspiration from, and that is worth analysing. The Minister has promised to share data on how this training is conducted, its quality and characteristics, for which I am grateful. Switzerland is an extraordinary example for the whole world on how to build social integration and the capability for universal defence, not just in specific individuals” – stressed the Deputy Prime Minister, W. Kosiniak-Kamysz, during the greeting of his guest
The main topics of the bilateral talks also included cooperation in the field of security and defense, as well as an analysis of the current geopolitical situation in Europe. The ministers devoted particular attention to issues of civil protection and societal resilience, in which Switzerland has many years of experience.
The discussions also covered the possibilities for coordinating activities within international organizations, as well as the potential for cooperation between the defense industries. The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on the challenges facing the European security system and the role of neutral states in stabilizing the region.
“Poland is a leader when it comes to European security. We can learn a lot from Polish experiences in the area of contributing to a country’s defence. This is also an important contribution to the security of the whole of Europe. For this, I am extremely thankful” – said Martin Pfister after the meeting.
Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz outlined the main areas of Polish-Swiss cooperation and potential directions for their intensification.
“We have a great cooperation in the area of training our armoured units and special units. Our soldiers also train in the programme for Leopard tanks. Special forces soldiers also cooperate, for which I am thankful. We are working on an agreement on military education. I have also invited the Minister to take part in the International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, which takes place in the first week of September. It is one of the most important exhibitions of this type in the world, third after London and Paris in terms of influence, serving to promote the defence industry and sign contracts.”
