Maria Malmer Stenergard

In light of the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, the EU has adopted sanctions against six Russian individuals under the chemical weapons sanctions regime. In June, listings of seven individuals and one entity were also adopted under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, which was established because of the internal oppression in Russia.

Today, 7 July, in connection with the NATO Summit in Ankara, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that NATO has chosen Saab’s GlobalEye as its new Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C). This means that NATO will open negotiations with Saab to purchase up to 10 GlobalEye aircraft.

On 2 July 2026, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard announced that the Swedish names of the Embassy of Sweden in Kyiv and the Honorary Consulate of Sweden in Odesa will be changed to reflect the Ukrainian names for Kyiv and Odesa, respectively.

On 7–8 July, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will take part in the NATO Summit in Ankara. The Government will hold two press conferences on site in Türkiye.

On Saturday 4 July, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard will receive China’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi for a bilateral meeting. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will also receive Mr Wang for a courtesy visit.

On 29 June, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson visited Gdynia, Poland for government-level talks. The meeting focused on strengthened bilateral cooperation between Sweden and Poland in the areas of regional security and defence. Minister for Defence Pål Jonson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand, Minister for Infrastructure and Housing Andreas Carlson and Minister for EU Affairs Jessica Rosencrantz also took part on the trip.

Sweden and Poland have successfully finalised negotiations on Poland’s procurement of three A26 submarines from Saab. This agreement is a significant step in strengthening Poland’s maritime capability, while also helping the countries deepen their collaboration on security and industrial policy.

On Monday 29 June, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will travel with several ministers to Gdynia, Poland for intergovernmental consultations. The focus will be on strengthened bilateral cooperation between Sweden and Poland, specifically with regard to regional security and defence. Mr Kristersson and Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk will hold a joint press conference during which they will announce a new development in the countries’ bilateral submarine cooperation.

On 11 June, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard received Panama’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez. Topics of discussion for the meeting included current developments in Panama and internationally, digitalisation issues and trade.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memorandum of understanding regarding bilateral technology cooperation in Helsingborg on 22 May. This will involve greater opportunities for bilateral cooperation in areas such as AI, connectivity, biomedicine, energy, space, quantum technology, advanced manufacturing and defence innovation.

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.

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

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.

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.

On Sunday 17 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, in the presence of HRH The Crown Princess, received India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gothenburg. During the visit, Mr Modi was presented with the Royal Order of the Polar Star by HRH The Crown Princess.