Joint Trainings of the Swiss and French Armies for 2026

Summary

The Swiss Army is conducting extensive joint trainings with French units in 2026. The exercises in the areas of infantry, engineering, tanks and artillery take place in Switzerland and France and are based on a bilateral agreement from 2021. The aim is to improve interoperability and strengthen defense capabilities while maintaining Swiss neutrality. The trainings involve troop movements and military vehicle transports by rail and road.

Persons

Swiss Federal Council
French Government

Topics

Bilateral military cooperation
Interoperability between armies
Defense capability
Security policy 2026
Troop movements

Detailed Summary

The Swiss Army and the French Army are intensifying their military cooperation in 2026 through several coordinated training sequences. These activities take place within the framework of a bilateral agreement on military training signed in 2021. The focus is on four branches of service: infantry, engineering, tanks and artillery.

Training Schedule and Locations:

The first training sequence takes place from late January to mid-February 2026 in the Hongrin area (Canton Vaud). Members of the French 35ème Régiment d'Infanterie conduct shooting exercises together with the Mountain Infantry Battalion 7 of the Swiss Army.

In June 2026, members of the 13ème Régiment du Génie train with the Armored Engineer Battalion 1 at the Bure weapons training ground in Canton Jura. In July, exercises of the 501ème Régiment de Chars de Combat follow with the Mechanized Battalion 17 at the same location.

In November 2026, joint trainings of the Swiss Artillery Section 1 with the 40ème Régiment d'Artillerie are planned at the locations Bière (Vaud) and Simplon (Valais).

Strategic Significance:

The trainings serve to improve interoperability – the ability to cooperate with other armed forces. Through the exchange of procedures and operational doctrines (benchmarking), the defense capabilities of both armies are to be strengthened. This initiative is anchored in the 2026 Security Policy Strategy.

Logistical Implications:

The trainings involve movements of French troops and military vehicles in Switzerland. These transports take place by rail and road and are escorted by military police.

Key Messages

Continuity of cooperation: 2026 is the second year of joint trainings following successful activities in 2025
Comprehensive branches of service: Four core areas (infantry, engineering, tanks, artillery) are involved
Geographic distribution: Trainings are distributed across several Swiss cantons and France
Preservation of neutrality: Cooperation takes place explicitly while maintaining Swiss neutrality
Legal basis: Bilateral agreement from 2021 creates a binding framework

Stakeholders & Those Affected

Beneficiaries:

Swiss and French armies (improved interoperability)
Security policy of both countries
Regions with training locations (economic activity)

Those Affected:

Population in training regions (Hongrin, Bure, Bière, Simplon)
Road and rail users (troop transports)
Residents near weapons training grounds

Observers:

International community of states (neutrality question)
Security policy stakeholders in Europe

Opportunities & Risks

Opportunities	Risks
Strengthened defense capability	Perception as violation of neutrality
Improved interoperability	Traffic disruptions
Exchange of military best practices	Environmental impact from troop movements
Stabilization of security situation	Public acceptance problems
Deeper bilateral relations	Logistical challenges

Relevance for Action

For Decision-Makers:

Strengthen communication of neutrality preservation to the public
Ensure coordination with local authorities in affected cantons
Plan traffic measures during troop transports
Prepare media coverage of the press event in February 2026
Ensure transparency regarding scope and duration of trainings

Developments to Monitor:

Public reactions to the neutrality question
Practical implementation of trainings
Findings on interoperability
Prospects for further bilateral cooperation

Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking

[x] Central statements and data verified
[x] Dates, locations and regiment designations verified
[x] Legal basis (2021 agreement) confirmed
[x] No unverified data present
[x] Neutrality aspect presented objectively

Verification Status: ✓ Facts checked on 23 January 2026

Additional Research

Security Policy Strategy 2026 – Swiss Federal Council (official strategy)
Agreement on Bilateral Cooperation in the Field of Military Training (2021) – Swiss Federal Council
Press Release from 31 March 2025 – Swiss Army (previous year trainings)

Sources

Primary Source:
Press Release Joint Trainings of the Army with France for 2026 – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/ZjUinyrbqqokhL8Aa2paE (23 January 2026)

Supplementary Sources:

Agreement between the Swiss Federal Council and the Government of the French Republic on bilateral cooperation in the field of military training
Security Policy Strategy 2026 – Swiss Federal Council
Press Release from 31 March 2025 on bilateral activities 2025 – Swiss Army