The Chief of the Swiss Armed Forces, Corps Commander Thomas Süssli, is in Kosovo for a two-day visit (June 12-13) to meet with Swiss military personnel deployed as part of the military peacekeeping mission, KFOR.
During his visit, Commander Süssli is scheduled to meet with KFOR Commander, Major General Enrico Barduani, as announced by the Swiss government.
Assessing the Situation and Mandate
The Swiss government stated that the Army Chief’s visit aims to “gain an overview of the current situation in the Balkans.” He will also use the opportunity to “speak with members of the Swiss Armed Forces deployed there and get an idea of the various services offered for the benefit of the KFOR mission.”
Commander Süssli is accompanied by Fabian Peter, Cantonal Councillor of Lucerne, and Stefanie Heimgartner, National Councillor of Aargau, a member of the National Council’s Security Policy Committee, along with other armed forces representatives.
The current mandate for the Swiss Armed Forces within KFOR extends until the end of 2026. The Swiss government emphasized that “military peacekeeping in an international context is one of the three missions of the Swiss Armed Forces.”
Notably, the announcement did not mention any meetings with Kosovar state officials during this visit.
