Both countries are regarded as active and neutral mediators with a long record of successful global efforts.
Qatar’s foreign ministry and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs signed a letter of intent to strengthen their collaboration in mediation and facilitation, reaffirming their joint commitment for the field.
The signing took place in Bern on Monday between Qatar’s Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, and Swiss State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Alexandre Fasel.
“The move is part of the State of Qatar’s commitment to reinforcing bilateral cooperation with the Swiss Confederation and supporting joint efforts in the field of mediation[…]contributing to resolving conflicts through peaceful means,” Qatar’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The letter is aimed at boosting Qatar and Switzerland’s cooperation in mediation, exchange expertise and information, while enhancing their partnership in the field of preventive diplomacy.
“The signing of this letter represents a new step in Qatar-Switzerland close cooperation, underscoring the two nations’ keenness to leverage their expertise in supporting dispute resolution efforts,” Al-Khulaifi said, as cited by Qatar’s foreign ministry.
Global hubs for mediation
Qatar and Switzerland stand as prominent global hubs for mediation and conflict resolution by facilitating dialogue between adversaries. Both countries are regarded as active and neutral mediators with a long record of successful global efforts.
Switzerland’s mediation approach is centred on neutrality and the use of good offices, which refers to the process by which a neutral third party helps bring disputing parties together to begin negotiations without actively participating in them.
Qatar, a diplomatic heavyweight, has also led major efforts in the Middle East and beyond from Afghanistan, Venezuela, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the Gaza Strip.
The Gulf state has also facilitated the exchange of prisoners and hostages in different parts of the world over the years.
Some of the key efforts this year included the release of U.S. citizen, George Glezmann, from Afghanistan in March, two-and-a-half years after his detainment by the Taliban.
Doha has also been playing a central role in mediating the return of children separated by the ongoing war between Moscow and Kyiv, which has raged on since 2022.
The Gulf state carried out the first such reunification on October 16, 2023 and has since repatriated 107 children.
Meanwhile, Qatar has been playing a central mediation role—along with the U.S. and Egypt—between Hamas and Israel in an effort to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli captives.
The efforts resulted in a ceasefire deal in January, which Israel broke on March 18.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has killed at least 64,605 people, mainly women and children, in the Gaza Strip, with thousands still trapped under the rubble.
