History of the Türkiye-Switzerland Relations

Bilateral diplomatic relations with Switzerland began in 1899-1900, when the Ottoman Empire accredited its Ambassador in Brussels to the Swiss Confederation. Between 1908 and 1915, there was a gap in the diplomatic representation between the two countries. However, as of 1915, the Ottoman Empire had appointed an Ambassador to Switzerland with residence in Bern. During the transition period dating to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye, diplomatic relations with Switzerland continued. On 1 November 1922, the Turkish Embassy in Bern was attached to the transition government of the Turkish Grand National Assembly. After the proclamation of the Republic of Türkiye, the Turkish Embassy in Bern was managed on the level of a Chargé d’Affaires.

In 1925, Mehmet Münir Ertegün, as the first Envoy of the Republic of Türkiye, presented his letter of credentials to the President of the Swiss Confederation. The same year, an “Agreement of Friendship” between the Republic of Türkiye and Switzerland was signed.

Switzerland on the other hand, opened its first diplomatic mission in Istanbul, Türkiye in 1925. The first Swiss Envoy presented his letter of credentials to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1928. The Swiss mission in Istanbul was moved to Ankara in 1934 and became an Embassy in 1957.

Relations between the Republic of Türkiye and the Swiss Confederation are close and diverse, and are characterized by regular high-level political dialogue as well as extensive economic and trade ties.