Foreign policy is about Sweden’s relations with and policies towards other countries. Preventing risks and threats is an important part of security policy, which in turn is part of foreign policy. Swedish policy is pursued via direct relations with other countries and also through bodies such as the EU and the UN.

Photo: Caisa Rasmussen/Government Offices of Sweden

Photo: Linnea Bengtsson/The Swedish Parliament

Photo: Linnea Bengtsson/The Swedish Parliament

On 18 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard presented the Government’s 2026 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. The Government’s foremost foreign policy priorities are support to Ukraine and increased pressure on Russia, stronger cooperation in security and trade, and gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Updates and the latest information on the Government’s work in response to the situation in Israel and Palestine can be found here.

On 7 March 2024, Sweden became a full member of NATO. NATO is a defence Alliance whose purpose is to safeguard the Allies’ freedom and security. Here you will find information about Sweden’s role, and the Government’s work and policies on NATO.

Since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sweden has provided military, humanitarian and civil support to support Ukraine. Together with the EU, Sweden has also adopted macroeconomic support and several sanctions packages against Russia.

The UN is a key platform for Sweden when it works together with countries outside its immediate neighbourhood to defend a rules-based international order, based on the UN Charter. This, in turn, contributes to the Government’s most important task: making Sweden freer and more secure.

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Albania, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the United States of America condemn the lethal plotting and other malign actions in Europe, North America and Australia by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Intelligence Organisation, Quds Force and Ministry of Intelligence and Security, including those against Iranian dissidents, journalists and Jewish and Israeli communities and interests. We stand united in our determination to protect our countries and our people against these threats. The Islamic Republic of Iran must halt these actions now.

Published10 June 2026·StatementfromMinistry for Foreign Affairs

On 8–10 June, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard is visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The visit will focus on the regional crisis and Sweden’s bilateral relations with the Gulf States.

Published09 June 2026·Press releasefromMaria Malmer Stenergard,Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Published08 June 2026·StatementfromJohan Forssell,Maria Malmer Stenergard,Ministry for Foreign Affairs,Ministry of Justice

On Wednesday 20 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard travelled to Kristianstad along with Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha for a bilateral meeting, a walkabout and a ceremony. Mr Sybiha then undertook other visits in southern Sweden before attending the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Helsingborg.

Published05 June 2026·ArticlefromMaria Malmer Stenergard,Ministry for Foreign Affairs

On Monday 1 June, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard presented the Government’s new Arctic Strategy at the Defences Museum in Boden. In the new Strategy, the Government clarifies Sweden’s Arctic policy interests and priorities. Swedish Arctic policy is reinforced by defining the links between security policy, resilient communities, the economy, and the environment and climate.

Published01 June 2026·Press releasefromMaria Malmer Stenergard,Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Ukraine’s highest priority is air defence. To strengthen Ukrainian air defence, Sweden and Ukraine launch a major defence deal, in which Ukraine acquires Swedish Gripen fighter jets.

Published28 May 2026·Press releasefromUlf Kristersson,Prime Minister's Office

On 20–21 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The meeting focused on Sweden’s total defence, civil defence and resilience.

Published21 May 2026· Updated28 May 2026·Article,WebcastfromCarl-Oskar Bohlin,Maria Malmer Stenergard,Pål Jonson,Ulf Kristersson,Ministry for Foreign Affairs,Ministry of Defence,Prime Minister's Office

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Nordic-Baltic countries firmly reject Russia’s blatant disinformation campaign and false claims, supported by Belarus, following the airspace violations in the Nordic-Baltic region. We strongly condemn Russia’s threats of the use of force directed at Latvia and other countries in the region.

Published25 May 2026·StatementfromMinistry for Foreign Affairs

Joint Statement on Arctic Security from the Arctic Allies – Canada, Kingdom of Denmark including Greenland and the Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the United States of America

On 21–22 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard will welcome Allies to a meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Helsingborg.

Published21 May 2026·Press releasefromMaria Malmer Stenergard,Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Opinion piece by Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard in The New York Times, 20 May 2026.

Published20 May 2026·Opinion piecefromMaria Malmer Stenergard,Ministry for Foreign Affairs

On 17 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Gothenburg. During the visit, the leaders held bilateral meetings and participated in discussions with European business leaders on innovation, climate and trade. HRH Crown Princess Victoria, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, and India’s Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also participated in the programme.

Published17 May 2026·ArticlefromMaria Malmer Stenergard,Ulf Kristersson,Ministry for Foreign Affairs,Prime Minister's Office

On 17 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Gothenburg on the occasion of Sweden and India upgrading their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. Mr Kristersson and Mr Modi also met with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Published17 May 2026·Press release,WebcastfromMaria Malmer Stenergard,Ulf Kristersson,Ministry for Foreign Affairs,Prime Minister's Office

Joint Statement on the India–Sweden Summit, ‘Establishment of a Strategic Partnership’ Gothenburg, 17 May 2026

Published17 May 2026·StatementfromUlf Kristersson,Prime Minister's Office

On Thursday 21 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will receive NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for a bilateral meeting and joint visit focused on Sweden’s total defence, civil defence and resilience. In conjunction with the meeting, they will hold a joint press briefing in Revinge, Skåne.

Published13 May 2026·Press release,WebcastfromCarl-Oskar Bohlin,Pål Jonson,Ulf Kristersson,Prime Minister's Office

On 17 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will receive Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Gothenburg. During the visit, the leaders will hold bilateral meetings and participate in discussions with European business leaders on innovation and trade. Mr Kristersson and Mr Modi will also hold joint press statements, together with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. HRH The Crown Princess will also participate in the programme.

Published12 May 2026·Press release,WebcastfromMaria Malmer Stenergard,Ulf Kristersson,Prime Minister's Office

On 11 May, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, is organising a conference in Stockholm on youth and gender equality issues for a future democratic Belarus. The forum gathers youth representative of the Belarusian democratic movement and civil society representatives, decision-makers and experts from the EU and Sweden. The aim is to highlight the importance of young people’s political participation to the democratic development of Belarus.

Published11 May 2026·Press releasefromBenjamin Dousa,Jessica Rosencrantz,Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Germany is Sweden’s most important trading partner, and the world’s fourth-largest economy. On Wednesday 6 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Germany’s Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Stockholm for a meeting on regional security policy, total defence and cooperation between Sweden and Germany.

Published07 May 2026·ArticlefromJessica Rosencrantz,Ulf Kristersson,Prime Minister's Office

On Tuesday 5 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda for a bilateral meeting in Stockholm. Minister for EU Affairs Jessica Rosencrantz also participated.

Published06 May 2026·ArticlefromJessica Rosencrantz,Ulf Kristersson,Prime Minister's Office

We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and government representatives of the NB8, met in Kuressaare, Estonia on 29-30 April 2026, at a time of rapid change in the international security environment, with heightened geopolitical tensions, Russia continuing its war of aggression against Ukraine, and an urgent need for Europe to step up and take greater responsibility for shaping its future.

Published30 April 2026·StatementfromMaria Malmer Stenergard,Ministry for Foreign Affairs