Switzerland beefs up security for Biden-Putin summit
Barbed wire and fences have been installed around the La Grange and Eaux-Vives parks in Geneva. The "Villa La Grange" is the confirmed location of the meeting between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 16.
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Special security measures are being prepared for next week’s summit in Geneva between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Local airspace will be restricted for three days and the public will be banned from accessing the lake and lakeside streets in the city centre.
The Federal Council (exeucutive body) on Friday approved a temporary restriction on the use of airspace during the summit from June 15-17 in Geneva. The Swiss Air Force will provide air policing and tighter airspace surveillance.
Commercial flights to and from Geneva International Airport will not be affected by the restriction, the government said in a statementExternal link on Friday.
The government has approved the deployment of 1,000 military personnel in support of the Geneva cantonal police. Soldiers will be responsible for protecting foreign diplomatic buildings and will provide equipment to the Geneva cantonal police for air and lake transport.
Biden and Putin are set to meet on June 16 at the Villa La Grange, an 18th-century Swiss villa in the south of the city that is being prepared for the event.
The summit will take place at the Villa La Grange, an 18th-century Swiss villa overlooking Lake Geneva.
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Afp
The villa is located in a picturesque wooded park with a stunning view of Lake Geneva and sailboats. But sailors will be unable to take their boats out on the Petit Lac, close to the city centre.
The cantonal authorities will impose a wide security area from 4am until midnight on Wednesday 16. It plans to cordon off the lake and lakeside streets from the Mon Repos park close to the International Geneva district, along the Quai Wilson and the Quai du Mont Blanc over the Mont Blanc bridge, and along the Quai Gustav Ador to the La Grange and Eaux-Vives parks.
The Geneva authorities have also encouraged local businesses and companies to work from home on June 16. A ban has also been imposed on any public demonstrations in Geneva during the summit.
Security zone in the centre of Geneva for the Putin-Biden summit on June 16. The public and vehicles are banned from the red zone that day.
SITG
The White House has played down expectations for the summit and said Biden plans to raise issues including Ukraine, arms control, human rights and cyber ransomware attacks. Russian officials have said their agenda will include issues like strategic stability, global crises, climate change and efforts to counter the coronavirus pandemic.
More
More
Biden-Putin summit: Why Geneva?
This content was published on
What advantages does Geneva have as a venue for top international summits?
This content was published on
A Geneva-registered tourist plane grazed some ski mountaineers on Saturday on a glacier on the Swiss side of the Monte Rosa massif.
Sharp rise in reports of suspicious sports betting in Switzerland
This content was published on
Last year the Intercantonal Gambling Supervisory Authority received 184 reports of suspicious activities in connection with 166 sports competitions.
Swiss fencers apologise for diplomatic scandal with Israel
This content was published on
Two days after causing a diplomatic scandal at the U23 European Championships in Tallinn, the Swiss fencers responsible have published a jointly signed apology on Instagram.
Air in climbing gyms more polluted than on streets
This content was published on
The concentration of potentially harmful chemicals in climbing gyms is sometimes higher than on busy roads, say researchers from Switzerland and Austria.
This content was published on
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) achieved slightly higher sales at the start of the year. However, profits fell sharply, partly due to the late Easter.
Switzerland’s first padel court on water built in Arosa
This content was published on
Switzerland's first padel tennis court on water will open on the Obersee in Arosa, canton Graubünden, for the 2025 summer season.
This content was published on
Wine consumption in Switzerland fell by almost 8% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Swiss wines are particularly affected by the decline.
Jackie Chan to be honoured for life’s work at Locarno Film Festival
This content was published on
Martial artist Jackie Chan will receive an Honorary Leopard, a lifetime achievement award, from the Locarno Film Festival in southern Switzerland in August.
Novartis raises forecast again after strong Q1 results
This content was published on
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has continued the strong pace of growth of recent quarters in the first three months of 2025.
Swiss canton holds first general meeting on winegrowing
This content was published on
More than 250 professionals attended the first general meeting of the Valais wine industry on Monday in Conthey, western Switzerland.
This content was published on
“The leaders will discuss the full range of pressing issues, as we seek to restore predictability and stability to the US-Russia relationship,” read a White House statementExternal link issued on Tuesday. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev held talks in Geneva on Monday to pave the way for…
When it comes to violations of international law, Switzerland is not neutral
This content was published on
The “neutral” label attached to Switzerland does not spare it taking a stand on tricky foreign policy issues, writes Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl.
Need a diplomatic messenger? Switzerland is eager to help
This content was published on
Switzerland's “protecting power” mandates have nearly doubled in the last few years. So why is there rising interest in this Swiss good office?
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.