Jacques Pitteloud, the Swiss ambassador to the United States, does not foresee an improvement in bilateral relations following the change of power in Washington. The Biden administration will “probably not have much time for Switzerland”, he says.
The new US administration simply has too many problems to solve, he said in an interviewExternal link with newspaper Blick, publishedon Wednesday.
Pitteloud, who will attend the inauguration of Joe Biden on Wednesday, also expressed scepticism about a free-trade agreement between Switzerland and the United States.
“The new administration around Joe Biden will certainly have to deal with other problems first,” he said. “Had Donald Trump been given a second term as US president, Switzerland might have had a slightly better chance for a free-trade agreement,” he reckoned, echoing comments made at the weekend by Edward McMullen, the outgoing US ambassador to Switzerland.
“But we will continue to work towards a free-trade agreement.”
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US ambassador McMullen says farewell
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Edward McMullen, the United States ambassador to Switzerland, has said farewell to the country, SonntagsBlick has reported.
Pitteloud also expects little change regarding Switzerland’s representation of US interests in Iran.
“Swiss diplomats in Washington and Tehran ensure at all times that messages are passed between the two governments as quickly as possible,” he explained.
There have been ups and downs between the two states for 40 years, he said. But both the US and Iran are facing power changes this year – “it’s a delicate time”.
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As tensions and oil prices rise in the Middle East, the Swiss foreign ministry is offering its good offices. But what are they?
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Legal action filed against Swiss purchase of Israeli drones
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Not only delays and setbacks. To the already troubled issue of the Israeli ADS15 drones, involving the company Elbit and armasuisse, there is now also a legal action, which aims to put an end to the delivery of the six reconnaissance drones.
Higher direct payments fail to curb scrub encroachment on alpine pastures
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The scrub encroachment on Swiss alpine pastures leads to the loss of grassland and damages the typical landscape. It is also responsible for the decline in biodiversity. Despite higher direct payments, the bushes continue to spread.
Head of Swiss financial regulator’s Banks division quits
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Thomas Hirschi, head of the Banks division of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA will leave at the end of August.
Swiss population satisfied with life according to survey
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In a survey, the population of German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland expressed general satisfaction with their lives. Respondents were less happy with politics and their personal finances, according to the online comparison service Moneyland.
WHO ‘extremely concerned’ about growing vaccination scepticism
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According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), vaccination scepticism and a collapse in funding for vaccination campaigns pose a major threat to the health of the world's population.
High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
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The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.
Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
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Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.
Swiss martyr beatified in Barcelona by Catholic Church
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François-Benjamin May (1870-1909), a member of the Marist Brothers congregation, has been recognised as a 'blessed' by the Catholic Church.
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How a norm-breaking American presidency affected Switzerland
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As Donald Trump leaves the White House, SWI swissinfo.ch assesses the impact of four tumultuous years on relations with Switzerland.
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Switzerland’s incoming ambassador to the United States Jacques Pitteloud talks about his priorities and how he sees his post.
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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.