Ministry for Foreign Affairs

On 13 March, the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Stockholm. The aim was to deepen cooperation in trade, investment and regional and global issues. Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard hosted the visit, which was a significant step in strengthening ties between the two countries.

The protracted conflict in Syria has created a severe humanitarian crisis. Two thirds of the population – around 17 million people – are considered in need of humanitarian support. The Government is therefore increasing its humanitarian support to Syria by a total of SEK 120 million, to be distributed between the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Today, 13 March, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa has announced that Sweden will increase development assistance to Ukraine by more than SEK 1.4 billion with the aim of strengthening Ukraine’s resilience and recovery.

The European Commission has completed negotiations with South Korea on a digital trade agreement. The Commission’s negotiating mandate was adopted during the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2023. The agreement helps to promote trade between the EU and South Korea and benefits Swedish companies and Swedish consumers.

In light of the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, the Government has approved a new support package of SEK 300 million to address the acute needs of the civilian population. The support is to be distributed to the UN Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund, the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Development Programme and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Growing political opposition around the world to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), especially abortion, risks having extremely serious consequences for women and girls. The Government has therefore approved an additional SEK 75 million to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Syria: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the recent wave of violence

The Government has instructed Sida to stop all direct governmental agency cooperation with Georgia. This comes in response to the serious deterioration of the democratic situation in the country.

Sweden will contribute an additional SEK 100 million to Ukraine via the World Bank. The support, which will help the reconstruction and upcoming necessary infrastructure projects, was presented during World Bank President’s visit to Stockholm on 6–7 March.

The Government has submitted a bill to the Riksdag regarding Sweden’s participation in an air defence operation to protect and maintain the security of military and civil support to Ukraine. Sweden will also contribute to enhanced Air Policing, NATO’s strengthened airspace surveillance, in Poland in mid-2025.

Speech by Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa at Join Sweden Summit 19 February 2025. Check against delivery.

Diana Janse, State Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa, visited the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila this week. The bank’s work on the green transition in Asia was one of many discussion topics during the visit. Also present on the trip was Sida Director-General Jakob Granit, as Sida is responsible for issuing a Swedish guarantee for increased climate financing in Asia.

Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania and Sweden today issued the following statement marking 10 years since the death of Boris Nemtsov.

More than 600 leading Swedish and international companies, investors and decision-makers gathered in Stockholm on 19 February for the Join Sweden Summit, the Government’s international investment conference that set a new attendance record this year. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hosted the conference.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has today, Thursday 27 February, summoned the Rwandan Ambassador in Stockholm.

Sweden and Australia are entering into negotiations on a bilateral social security agreement. The agreement will enable closer cooperation with Australia and facilitate the mobility of people and business between the two countries.

On the third anniversary of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU has adopted the 16th sanctions package since the launch of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The new sanctions package includes additional measures targeting the ‘shadow fleet’ and expanded import and export bans on Russian natural resources such as primary aluminium. The package also includes additional anti-circumvention measures.

The Government is providing SEK 9 million in support to the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden over a period of three years. The support will contribute to preserving and enhancing Ukrainian cultural heritage and provide a platform for Ukrainian culture outside Ukraine. The funding will enable Ukrainian artists to continue to work beyond the reach of Russian attacks.

Opinion piece, Financial Times, 24 February 2025,by Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark, Margus Tsahkna, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Estonia, Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Finland, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iceland, Baiba Braže, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Latvia, Kęstutis Budrys, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lithuania, and Espen Barth Eide, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Norway.

Joint statement by the coastal states of the Baltic Sea and North Sea – Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom – following the fourth expert-level meeting in Stockholm 19–20 February 2025.