Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA

Official meeting between Head of the FDFA Ignazio Cassis and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at the Locarno Film Festival

Press releases, 11.08.2025

At the invitation of Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Foreign Secretary David Lammy made an official visit to Locarno, his first to Switzerland. The meeting between the two foreign ministers served as an opportunity to discuss the excellent bilateral relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as well as a number of topical issues in European and international affairs. They then attended Diplomacy Day, a long-standing event at the Locarno Film Festival.

Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy shake hands.
On the sidelines of the Locarno Film Festival, Federal Councillor Cassis and UK Foreign Secretary Lammy discussed bilateral relations as well as European and international issues. © FDFA

Mr Cassis welcomed Mr Lammy, the UK's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, to Locarno for his first official visit to Switzerland. The meeting took place on the margins of the film festival and marked the centenary of the Locarno Treaties which aimed to ensure collective security in Europe through cooperation in the aftermath of the First World War: an appropriate backdrop for Mr Cassis and Mr Lammy to focus on their countries' joint efforts to promote peace and stability in Europe.

The two foreign ministers also reviewed relations between Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Since 2021, the two countries have concluded new bilateral agreements in the areas of trade, financial services, migration, road and air transport, scientific cooperation and insurance.

The talks examined in particular security in Europe and the influence of science and technology on peace. Switzerland announced its interest in strengthening diplomatic cooperation in these areas. The forthcoming Swiss chairpersonship of the OSCE in 2026 was discussed at length. Mr Lammy gave assurances that the UK would support Switzerland during its time as chair.

Lastly, the talks also focused on issues relating to US tariffs, relations with the European Union, the situation in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza, and the war in Ukraine.

Diplomacy Day marks the centenary of the Locarno Treaties

Every year, the Locarno Film Festival organises a ‘Diplomacy Day’. This event brings together diplomats and representatives of international organisations, as well as cultural and economic actors. Its 2025 edition saw the two ministers taking the stage to commemorate the centenary of the treaties negotiated in Locarno in 1925. These treaties helped to improve the diplomatic climate in Europe, thereby promoting peace on the continent in the 1920s.

Links

Address for enquiries:

FDFA Communication Bundeshaus West 3003 Bern +41 58 460 55 55 kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Last update 23.04.2025

  • Information for the media

    FDFA Communication answers media queries Mondays to Fridays during office hours and operates a weekend emergency on-call service.

Contact

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West
3003 Bern

Phone (for journalists only):
+41 58 460 55 55

Phone (for all other requests):
+41 58 462 31 53

kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Start of page
Swiss representations abroad
Federal Administration online
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA