Switzerland has reopened its embassy in Baghdad, restoring a diplomatic post that had been shut since the 1991 Gulf War and signaling a fresh phase in Swiss-Iraqi relations.
The move, announced on 2024-09-03, comes more than three decades after Switzerland withdrew its previous representation in Iraq because of the war that followed the invasion of Kuwait. According to the supplied evidence, the Swiss foreign ministry said the reopening is intended to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in economic, security and migration matters.
That framing matters because the embassy is not reopening as a large public-facing mission. It will begin with just three staff members, including ambassador Daniel Hunn and two officers supporting migration-related work and dialogue with Iraqi authorities. The Swiss embassy in Amman will continue to handle consular services and visa processing for Iraqi citizens, which means the Baghdad post is being restored first as a strategic diplomatic platform rather than a full service center.
The decision also reflects a view in Bern that the environment in Iraq has changed enough to justify the return. The Swiss government said the security situation has improved after prolonged internal conflicts and described the country as entering a new phase of economic development. It also pointed to Iraq’s role as a regional mediator and to the country’s energy resources and diversified economy as reasons Swiss businesses may find long-term opportunities there.
The reopening had been in motion for some time. The evidence says it was one of the main topics during a visit by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis in 2021, and that Switzerland’s foreign affairs committees approved the step late last year. That timeline suggests the move was planned, gradual and political rather than symbolic only.
More than 50 countries already maintain embassies in Baghdad, including 18 European states and the European Union. Switzerland’s return therefore places it back among a wider diplomatic community that has re-established itself in the Iraqi capital despite the city’s long history of instability.
For Iraq, another European embassy returning is a sign of normalization even if the mission starts small. For Switzerland, it is an investment in rebuilding channels with a country that the government now sees as relevant to trade, security and migration discussions. The first phase will be limited, but the message is plain: Bern is betting that maintaining a physical presence in Baghdad is once again worth the risk and the cost.
