Swiss authorities announced this Wednesday that they will deploy 2,000 Army personnel and implement air traffic restrictions around the town of Burgenstock, located on Lake Lucerne, for the ceremony scheduled for this Friday to sign the memorandum of understanding reached between the United States and Iran.
The federal government has stressed that the security operation approved by the Federal Council "is part of an assistance service to support civilian authorities," and has emphasized that "this deployment is subsidiary and complements the security measures" already prepared by local authorities.
The Executive has explained that the authorities of the canton of Nidwalden requested "federal support" for the event, and has specified that these 2,000 soldiers "will support the cantonal police of Nidwalden, particularly through tasks of property protection, surveillance, reconnaissance, transport, and logistics."
Likewise, it has indicated that "temporary restrictions" will be introduced in the airspace around Burgenstock, a decision that has been described as "a necessary measure to guarantee the security of the meeting," which will be attended by "high-ranking officials" from the United States, Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar.
"Switzerland is obliged to guarantee the protection of persons covered by International Law," it stated in a statement, specifying that these restrictions will remain in place between June 18 and 20 and will apply within a 46-kilometer radius from Burgenstock mountain.
"In line with its primary mission, the Swiss Air Force will provide air surveillance and enhanced airspace monitoring," the official text added, as part of the preparations for the signing of the aforementioned memorandum, considered the first step towards resolving the conflict in the Middle East triggered by the offensive launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Pakistan, which has acted as mediator, announced on Sunday a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran -- confirmed by both capitals -- with the aim of ending the open war in the Middle East following said offensive, which began while talks between the United States and Iran were ongoing to reach a new nuclear agreement.
The parties have ratified that the formal signing of the memorandum of understanding will take place in Switzerland on Friday, after which a 60-day period will open to negotiate the details of a definitive peace agreement, in a context of warnings from Iran over Israel's attacks against Lebanon, which Tehran interprets as a violation of what was agreed with Washington.