‘De-escalation in cyberspace: mediation and preventive diplomacy’ – OSCE conference in Zug
Bern, 24.09.2026 — How can we prevent cyber incidents from escalating into international crises or exacerbating existing tensions? This question will be the focus of the international conference on ‘De-escalation in cyberspace: mediation and preventive diplomacy’ which Switzerland is organising in Zug on 29 and 30 September. It is the final thematic conference to be held under the 2026 Swiss Chairpersonship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), ahead of the annual meeting of the Ministerial Council in Lugano on 3 and 4 December 2026. Federal Councillor Martin Pfister, head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, will open the conference, while a speech by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE and head of the FDFA, will close it.
Increasing digital interconnectivity, along with new technologies such as AI and advances in quantum computing, is transforming the international security landscape. Cyberattacks, espionage, sabotage and disinformation can rapidly undermine trust between states, foster inaccurate perceptions and heighten tensions – particularly when the perpetrators and consequences of an incident are unclear. Against this backdrop, high-level representatives from politics, diplomacy and cybersecurity will discuss how stability and trust in cyberspace can be strengthened, and what role preventive diplomacy and mediation can play in countering escalation at an early stage and maintaining dialogue between states.
Cyberdiplomacy is peace policy in the digital age
The conference builds on the priorities of Switzerland's 2026 OSCE Chairpersonship, promoting inclusive multilateral diplomacy and strengthening peace, security and stability. Through this work, Switzerland underscores that in the digital age, cyberdiplomacy is increasingly becoming an instrument of peace policy. It also demonstrates how preventive diplomacy can contribute to peace and international security. Switzerland is seizing the occasion of its OSCE Chairpersonship to intertwine its experience in conflict prevention and mediation with its expertise in innovation and cybersecurity. It will leverage its term to promote a digital space that is secure, stable and used responsibly.
Strengthening and developing confidence-building measures
Taking the lead among international organisations, the OSCE has adopted 16 confidence-building measures designed to promote transparency and communication between states and to reduce conflicts following cyber incidents. The conference will examine how these instruments can be used even more effectively in crisis situations to maintain dialogue, prevent escalation and manage crises.
The focus will also on mediation in cyberspace – known as cybermediation – as a new tool for diplomatic conflict prevention. Cybermediation uses digital technologies and online platforms to facilitate negotiations that geographical distance might otherwise prevent. It can help build trust, maintain dialogue even in tense situations, and resolve misunderstandings at an early stage. In the digital age as in the past, one key prerequisite for peace remains unchanged: states must be able to communicate with one another, particularly when trust and security come under pressure.
The conference will also examine the role that non-state actors and new technologies can play in preventing and managing crises. Non-state actors can, for example, help identify developments at an early stage and provide a more comprehensive picture of the situation through early warning, technical expertise and situational awareness.