Published on 11 September 2026

Bilateral relations Switzerland–Lebanon

Bilateral relations between Switzerland and Lebanon have traditionally been good and have been stepped up in recent years. Key areas of focus include promoting political dialogue and development reforms, humanitarian aid, and assisting local authorities with regard to human rights, peace and the rule of law, and migration cooperation.

Key aspects of diplomatic relations

The focus of bilateral relations is on promoting political dialogue and development reforms, humanitarian aid, and cooperation in the fields of migration, peacebuilding and the rule of law, and migration.

Treaty database

Economic cooperation

Lebanon is Switzerland's third-largest trading partner in the Middle East, with a trade volume of CHF 2.2 billion (2025) resulting largely from the gold trade. The two countries concluded a bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement in 2001 and a free trade agreement in 2007 (via EFTA).

Country Cockpit, State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO

Trade promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise SGE

Cooperation on education, research and innovation

Swiss and Lebanese higher education institutions have entered into a variety of partnerships and cooperation agreements covering a range of areas including engineering, hotel management and hospital care. Switzerland is a highly popular destination for Lebanese students.

Researchers and artists who are citizens of Lebanon may apply to the State Secretariat for Education Research and Innovation (SERI) for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists

Young professionals, State Secretariat for Migration SEM

Peacebuilding and human security

Switzerland supports dialogues in Lebanon with all partners to resolve crises and conflicts and to deal with the past and achieve reconciliation.

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid

The regional cooperation programme for Syria and Neighbouring Countries 2026–2029 covers Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey and is divided into four priority areas: human development, climate and environment, economic development, and peace and good governance. A budget of around CHF 243 million has been earmarked for the implementation phase. As part of the cooperation programme, Switzerland is pursuing an integrated approach that combines humanitarian aid, development cooperation and peace promotion. This helps to protect particularly vulnerable population groups and mitigate acute suffering while establishing the basis for long-term stability and development.

Development cooperation and humanitarian aid

Cultural exchanges

Switzerland and Lebanon maintain extensive cultural exchanges, for which their common use of the French language is an important vehicle. Switzerland takes part in Beirut's annual francophone book fair, and is also involved in the celebrations for the International Day of La Francophonie and Italian Language Week. Exchanges of visual artists and musicians are promoted, while Switzerland also takes part each year in Lebanon's European Film Festival.

Swiss nationals in Lebanon

According to statistics on the Swiss abroad, there were 883 Swiss nationals living in Lebanon at the end of 2025.

History of bilateral relations

Greater Lebanon was established in 1920 under the French mandate. Switzerland opened a consulate in Beirut in 1934. After Lebanon gained independence in 1943, the consulate was upgraded to a legation in 1949, before becoming an embassy in 1958.

Since 1948, the Swiss Confederation has supported Palestinian refugees and other victims of violence in the region via the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Although the Swiss embassy was temporarily closed several times during the civil war (notably between 1988 and 1995), Switzerland offered its good offices and provided active support for the Lebanese National Dialogue Conference, which was held in Geneva in 1983 and reconvened in Lausanne in 1984.

Lebanon, Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (de, fr, it)

Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland, Dodis

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