President Keller-Sutter at St Gallen Symposium on ‘Shifting Global Power’
Berne, 08.05.2025 — On Thursday, 8 May, President Karin Keller-Sutter addressed the St Gallen Symposium, where this year's theme focused on ‘Shifting Global Power’. On the sidelines of the symposium, President Keller-Sutter met with Montenegro's President Jakov Milatović.
In her speech, President Keller-Sutter reflected on the significance of 8 May 1945, marking 80 years since the German Wehrmacht surrendered to the Allied forces. She noted how the US-shaped post-war order had fostered decades of democratic and free-market prosperity. Yet she pointed out that fractures in this framework had emerged well before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Similarly, both multilateralism and global trade structures had begun to weaken prior to the second Trump administration. What is different now, she observed, is the pace of change.
Speech at St. Gallen Symposium
Dismissing any prospect of returning to the way things were, the Swiss president acknowledged the fundamental restructuring of global power: “Even though today's world differs markedly from 80 years ago, I firmly believe it is in the interest of Western nations to uphold their own liberal order.”
On the fringes of the symposium, President Keller-Sutter engaged with various other participants, notably Montenegro's President Milatović. Their conversation highlighted strengthening bilateral ties that have recently gained political and economic momentum. The Swiss president welcomed Montenegro's intention to establish an embassy in Bern. Both leaders agreed that conditions were favourable for expanding trade relations. President Keller-Sutter confirmed Switzerland's ongoing support for Western Balkan integration into Europe. Their dialogue also covered European security concerns, transatlantic partnerships, and multilateral engagement.
The President of the Swiss Confederation held additional meetings in St Gallen, including talks with Botswana's Vice President and Finance Minister Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, and Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. These discussions primarily addressed recent geopolitical shifts. The president's schedule also included a meeting with representatives from Swiss and German businesses.