North South University’s (NSU) School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS) organized a talk on ‘Foreign Policy of a Neutral State’ on 24 September 2025. The session was held at the NSU Syndicate Hall, as part of the NSU SHSS Distinguished Lecture Series.

The keynote speaker was H.E. Reto Renggli, Ambassador of Switzerland to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The session was chaired by Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor of NSU. The concluding observations were provided by the moderator, Professor Abdur Rob Khan, Treasurer & Pro-Vice Chancellor (IC) at NSU.

Md. Rizwanul Islam, Professor of Law and Dean of SHSS at NSU, commenced the discussion with the introductory remarks, where he quoted Winston Churchill saying that “of all neutrals, Switzerland has the greatest right to distinction.” He noted that the scrupulous practice of neutrality has earned Switzerland a reputation for good faith and ensured that it plays a role in many world crises.

H.E. Reto Renggli began his presentation by providing an overview of Switzerland’s historical commitment to neutrality, explaining how this principle has shaped its foreign policy decisions and served its role as a humanitarian actor and a mediator of diplomatic dialogue. He emphasized that this approach offers a unique perspective on navigating the complexities of international relations in an ever-changing world. During the Q&A session, faculty members engaged with the guest speaker on how neutral states contribute to conflict resolution, economic diplomacy, and global governance.

Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury highlighted that understanding various models of foreign policy, such as neutrality, is crucial for students of international relations and diplomacy, and that NSU is committed to providing a platform for such intellectual discourse through similar arrangements such as this seminar. Professor Abdur Rob Khan concluded by highlighting that the discussion helped clarify the interdisciplinary aspects between a state’s domestic values, its geopolitical position, and its international relations, specifically in terms of maintaining neutrality.