Swiss Defense Minister Pfister at TRIAS25 in Austria
With his first official visit abroad, the new Swiss Minister of Defense, Federal Councillor Martin Pfister, sent a clear signal for intensified military partnership. He met his Austrian counterpart, Klaudia Tanner, at the Allentsteig military training area as part of the multinational exercise “TRIAS25”.
The Swiss Minister of Defense, Martin Pfister, visits his troops at TRIAS25 and his counterpart Klaudia Tanner in Austria. / Picture: © Bundesheer/Carina Karlovits
This high-level security policy meeting took place at the Allentsteig military training area in Lower Austria as part of the multinational exercise “TRIAS25”. The focus was on bilateral relations between Austria and Switzerland and the joint pursuit of greater interoperability in the defense sector. Pfister's visit not only underlined the close security policy ties between Bern and Vienna, but also highlighted the strategic relevance of trilateral D-A-CH cooperation in European defense.
Austria's Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner received Federal Councillor Martin Pfister, the new head of the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS), who was making his first trip abroad in his new role. In discussions with Austrian and Swiss officers, the security situation in Europe was discussed as well as operational issues relating to training, defense capabilities, and the future of ground forces.
“I am impressed by the organization and implementation of the exercise,” said Pfister in Allentsteig. “This cooperation shows how our countries work in partnership - and how important it is to develop joint responses to the security policy challenges of our time.”
Dialogue with weight: Pfister and Tanner exchange ideas
The bilateral talks between Pfister and Tanner focused on key security policy issues for both countries: from resilience to hybrid threats to the future of ground forces in an increasingly networked security environment. This was the Swiss Federal Councillor's first visit to the troops since taking office - a deliberate start that sets the tone for both domestic and foreign policy.
Pfister was accompanied by high-ranking Swiss officers and members of the security commissions of both chambers of parliament. On site, he was informed in detail about the exercise's course and actively sought dialogue with members of the Swiss troops who are completing a refresher course abroad as part of “TRIAS25”—all on a voluntary basis.
TRIAS25 as a stage for D-A-CH cooperation
The “TRIAS25” exercise, which will take place from April 14 to May 9, 2025, will bring together troops from Switzerland, Austria, and Germany for the first time on this scale. Around 950 Swiss, 200 Austrian, and 150 German soldiers will train together at the Allentsteig military training area in Lower Austria, supported by main battle tanks, reconnaissance drones, and state-of-the-art communication technology.
The maneuver is an example of the so-called D-A-CH format, which systematically deepens security cooperation between the three countries. There are already over 150 joint projects between Switzerland and Austria, governed by 13 bilateral agreements. There have also been decades of cooperation with the German Armed Forces, for example, in the preparation of peacekeeping missions.
Austrian Defense Minister Tanner praised the infrastructural progress in particular: “The investments we have made in recent years are now paying off. Allentsteig has become one of the most modern training areas in Europe - a place where real synergies are created.”
Change at the DDPS: continuity with new accents
Pfister's visit to “TRIAS25” comes at a time of transition: the change at the head of the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) marks the end of Viola Amherd's term of office, who became the first woman to head the DDPS in 2019. Amherd had significantly expanded Switzerland's international cooperation in the area of defense, despite the country's constitutional neutrality. The strategic opening towards partners such as Austria and Germany, as well as key procurement projects, such as the decision in favor of the F-35 fighter jet, shaped her time in office.
Martin Pfister continues this course, but sets his accents: With his first trip abroad to Austria and the direct exchange with the troops, he is signaling an even stronger practical orientation, a focus on training quality and operational interoperability. The visit is therefore not only a diplomatic commitment to D-A-CH cooperation, but also an expression of a new style of leadership in the DDPS.
Future of the ground forces: Swiss concept put to the test
For the Swiss Armed Forces, “TRIAS25” not only serves as a signal of international partnership, but also as a touchstone for the new “Future of Ground Forces” concept. The aim is to test digitalized combat management, mobile logistics structures, and networked command systems in a multinational environment. The aim is to gather concrete experience that will be incorporated into the further development of the armed forces of both countries.
Pfister emphasized that “TRIAS25” is more than just a routine exercise: “This exercise is also a political commitment to cooperation across borders - in response to the changing security situation in Europe.”