Switzerland to deploy 4,000 troops and close motorway as Geneva braces for G7 summit in Évian

Military and police mobilisation

Switzerland will deploy approximately 4,000 troops on its territory to reinforce security during the G7 summit across Lake Geneva in Évian-les-Bains, France. The Swiss Armed Forces confirmed the deployment will support cantonal police in Vaud, Geneva, and Valais, as well as the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security. Military personnel will protect critical infrastructure including Geneva Airport, bolster border surveillance, and monitor key transport routes and Lake Geneva. The air force will step up air policing with airspace restrictions in place from 10 to 19 June, and will provide counter-drone systems and protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical threats.

The proximity to the border presents a major challenge for security authorities in the cantons of Vaud, Geneva and Valais. As a result, the Federal Council and Parliament have decided on a subsidiary security deployment of the army.

Switzerland and France have formalised their military cooperation in a Joint Procedure Document approved by the Swiss Federal Council on Friday. The document sets the framework for joint activities contributing to security, particularly on Lake Geneva and in the airspace. In Lausanne, the Vaud cantonal police have reinforced their Blécherette headquarters with barriers and barbed wire, describing it as a key command and security operations site.

Motorway closures and border restrictions

The Geneva bypass motorway (A1) will be partially closed in the direction of France from Monday 15 June at 00:01 until Wednesday 17 June at 23:59. A mandatory exit will be enforced at the Meyrin, Vernier, and Geneva-Centre junctions. Motorway entries and exits at Bernex and Perly/Plan-les-Ouates will be closed, as will the slip road from La Praille towards Bardonnex. On Sunday 14 June, the day of the anti-G7 demonstration, the Vengeron/Geneva-Lac exit will be closed from 06:00 to 23:59. Traffic arriving from France will maintain normal flow on two lanes, but police warn of additional waiting times at border crossings that remain open.

Dozens of border crossings will close from Thursday 11 June in the afternoon to allow security infrastructure to be installed. Only seven customs posts will remain open. International road freight arriving from Vaud will be directed to complete customs formalities at Ferney or Thônex-Vallard, though authorities strongly recommend using crossings in other cantons such as Vallorbe or those in the Jura arc. A buffer zone will be established on the French side upstream of the Bardonnex customs post. Spedlogswiss Romandie, the freight forwarders' association, expressed "deep concern" about the closure of this strategic axis and criticised the lack of early communication, warning of significant consequences for supply chains.

Protests and counter-summit planning

The Geneva government expects between 10,000 and 20,000 demonstrators at the anti-G7 march on 14 June, with contingency planning for up to 50,000. The "No G7" coalition, comprising around 60 organisations, has been restricted by authorities to a route on the right bank of the lake. Organisers say the route offers much reduced visibility and have challenged the restrictions in court, without success. The exact route is still under negotiation.

We are supposed to leave 3.5 metres of empty space beside us, which means that perhaps, with the roadworks on all the streets she chose, we might have to march in single file. It will be a new exercise, it will be difficult to pull off, but it will be funny because it will be endless. The best part is that we must not make too much noise.

On the French side, the No G7 France coalition has not yet decided whether to organise a demonstration in Annemasse. The group is waiting to see the final details of the Geneva gathering before making a decision, with a meeting between the coalition and cantonal authorities scheduled for Tuesday evening. A representative stated the coalition supports the principle of free movement at borders and has not issued a call to protest, though spontaneous gatherings are not ruled out. The collective said it had been forced to abandon plans for a counter-summit, calling it a difficult decision but not one driven by fear, and criticised the late offer of Parc Fantasia as unsuitable due to its narrow access road and proximity to the railway line.

We refuse to be pawns and to be pushed around on both sides of the border.

Summit participants and agenda

The G7 summit will bring together leaders from the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will represent the EU. Invited guest countries include Kenya, after reports that US President Donald Trump threatened to boycott the meeting if South African President Cyril Ramaphosa were invited. The agenda will address current international challenges, with some topics reportedly selected because they are particularly important to the US president.

Commercial precautions

In Geneva, some businesses are boarding up their premises as a precaution, even though the demonstration route will not pass through the city centre's shopping and banking district. Matteo Cocchi, president of the Conference of Cantonal Police Commanders of Switzerland, said significant and possibly violent protests are expected. The 2003 G8 summit in Évian saw large-scale riots and property damage in the Lake Geneva region, a memory that is shaping security planning this year.

There will probably be large and possibly violent demonstrations. We must be ready and anticipate.