DDPS - Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports of the Swiss Confederation

09/06/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/06/2024 02:08

State Secretary Mäder to attend REAIM Summit and visit the NNSC in the Republic of Korea

State Secretariat for Security Policy

Bern, 06.09.2024 - On 9 and 10 September, State Secretary Markus Mäder will represent Switzerland at the Summit on Responsible Use of AI in the Military Domain (REAIM 2024) in Seoul. Subsequently the State Secretary will visit the Swiss officers stationed in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC).

This is the second international summit following REAIM 2023, which was held in the Netherlands, and it will be attended by numerous ministers and government representatives, as well as experts from the fields of research, industry and academia. The aim of the summit is to promote a common understanding of the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence
(AI) and its responsible and lawful use in the military domain.

Speech during the ministerial segment of the conference

Switzerland will actively shape the discussions in Seoul and support the summit's blueprint for action. The blueprint for action is in line with the Federal Council's position that the use of AI and autonomy in the military sector offers many opportunities, but also poses challenges for foreign and security policy, as well as legal and ethical challenges. During the ministerial segment, State Secretary Mäder will speak specifically about the challenges of AI in the military sector and Switzerland's role, emphasising the importance of responsible and lawful use.

Visit of Swiss officers in the Republic of Korea

After the summit, State Secretary Mäder will visit the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) in the Republic of Korea and the Swiss officers stationed there. The NNSC's main tasks include monitoring the Armistice Agreement signed by the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in 1953, inspecting observation and guard posts, monitoring military exercises in the Republic of Korea and conducting special investigations into suspected violations of the armistice.

Address for enquiries

Stéphanie Grillet
SEPOS spokesperson
+41 58 463 07 09

Publisher

State Secretariat for Security Policy
https://www.sepos.admin.ch/de

Defence
http://www.vtg.admin.ch

General Secretariat DDPS
https://www.vbs.admin.ch/