On Wednesday 18 March 2026, the Foundation organised a dialogue on Swiss and European dependencies on the United States. Watch the film here.
As economic protectionism resurfaces, digital tools dominate our daily lives, and geopolitical maps are being redrawn, the transatlantic relationship has never been more crucial—nor more unbalanced. Between strategic imperative and the need for autonomy, what room for manoeuvre truly remains for Switzerland and Europe in the face of the American giant?
To explore these challenges, we had the honour of welcoming three prominent Swiss figures who offered distinct analytical perspectives:
- Bruno Giussani: author of “Moins d’Amérique dans nos vies” and “Manuel de résistance à l’emprise technologique”, who provided insights into the technological and societal aspects.
- Jacques Pitteloud: Swiss Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and Head of the Swiss Mission to NATO, who shared his views on diplomacy and security
- Richard Werly: journalist, author of “Cette Amérique qui nous déteste” and France/Europe correspondent for Blick, who provided a political and European analysis.
Together, they painted a stark picture: in the military, digital and economic spheres, Europe has gradually relinquished its ability to act independently. This dependence has been made more visible and more worrying than ever by Donald Trump’s policies.
The discussion took place in the IDHEAP auditorium and was moderated by Gwendoline Munsch, editor and co-president of HEConomist, before giving way to a lively exchange with a large audience.
Watch the film here:
With the support of the University of Lausanne and La Loterie Romande