Facing Trump, Switzerland must be more “opportunistic” and “Machiavellian”, estimates Thomas Borer – Rts.ch

“Each day counts in a negotiation of this importance.” Former Swiss ambassador to Germany. Meanwhile, Thomas Borer greets the arrival in Washington of Karin Keller-Sutter and Guy Parmelin to try to defuse the trade conflict with the United States. Meanwhile, At the microphone of the RTS Forum program, he nevertheless believes that Bern should have been more reactive.

I do not imagine that the American president refuses to receive them. Similarly, or at least mandate one of his ministers with full authority to facing trump, switzerland must more negotiate

A great connoisseur of the United States for negotiating with them in the case of disrepair in the 1990s, he hopes that the president of the Confederation and the federal adviser in charge of the Economy will be able to meet Donald Trump quickly. Consequently, “I do not imagine that the American president refuses to receive them. Nevertheless, or at least mandate one of his ministers with full authority to negotiate.”

Donald Trump’s shock announcement, on August 1, to surcharge Swiss exports in the United States 39% strongly rocked Swiss diplomacy. For example, And the American president also dried up the nail on Tuesday on the American television channel CNBC. Nevertheless, confident that he did not know Karin Keller-Sutter, “a sympathetic woman” but who “did not want to listen”.

Unpredictability. facing trump, switzerland must more humiliation

Unfortunately, with Donald Trump, it is not only necessary to deal with unpredictability, but also to accept to be abused, even if it means wiping a few humiliations, believes Thomas Borer, recalling the altercation between the American president and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House last February. “Trump is the most powerful man in the world. We are a small state (…). We know very well that it is difficult to oppose the arguments of the President of the United States.”

One of the only Swiss who has a link with him is the president of FIFA Gianni Infantino. So why not try to organize an appointment, perhaps with our two federal advisers?

Thomas Borer pleads for unpleasant diplomacy. Even if it means shaking facing trump, switzerland must more up the rules. “Ursula von der Leyen is a good example. She made a lot of promises,” he explains. According to him, these promises will not be held. “We must also be a little opportunistic and Machiavellian, like the other states,” he insists. Even if. to do this, Switzerland will have to put its advanced sense of morality on hold and on which its diplomacy rests.

In a recent interview with TempsThomas Borer believed that the Federal Council should “kneel in front of Trump”. He persists. signs: “Naturally, we can accept these 39%, which would be a shock for our exporters, especially in the precision industry. But if we want a favorable result. a rate of 15% perhaps, we will have to make substantial concessions: in the pharmacy, in the food industry or in certain public contracts.”

And in his eyes. it is also necessary to take into account the fact facing trump, switzerland must more that Donald Trump is not a politician. “He sees himself as a businessman, an entrepreneur. In this, I think he works a lot by personal relationships.” Hence the importance, according to the former ambassador, to meet him in person, but also to activate all possible levers. “One of the only Swiss to have a link with him is the president of FIFA Gianni Infantino. So why not try to organize an appointment, perhaps with our two federal advisers?”

Interview by Renaud Malik and Coralie Claude

Web adaptation: Fabien Grenon