Mission: The Future

A new Swedish initiative to get Ukrainian products in Swedish shops has been presented by representatives of the Swedish Food Retailers Federation, together with Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa. The initiative aims to provide Swedish consumers’ increased access to Ukrainian products and opportunities to support Ukraine at the grocery store.

On 20 May, EU defence ministers will meet in Brussels within the framework of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. The meeting will focus on continued EU support to Ukraine and strengthening EU defence readiness and preparedness. Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will represent Sweden at the meeting.

On Friday 23 May, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will meet with Luxembourg’s Minister of Defence Yuriko Backes at Karlberg Palace for bilateral discussions. Photojournalists are welcome to attend the formal ceremony and the beginning of the bilateral discussions.

Sweden is running for a seat on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council. The Council is the IMO’s executive organ comprising 40 members. The candidacy is for the 2026–2027 term.

The Government has authorised an additional SEK 14 million in funding to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2025. This funding helps enhance SIPRI’s opportunities to contribute research, analysis and partnerships to promote peace and security.

2025 constitutes a critical year for climate action. All parties to the Paris Agreement will present new national climate plans, so called Nationally Determined Contributions, NDC:s, ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in November. It is urgent to act to keep the 1.5ºC limit within reach. At the same time, the green transition offers opportunities for growth, jobs and prosperity. Swedish businesses are in the forefront of innovative green solutions and stand ready to engage with partners.

Debate article by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard and EU Minister Jessica Rosencrantz in Dagens Industri, 8 May 2025. Originally in Swedish.

Today, in conjunction with the European Commission reviewing the EU public procurement directives, Minister for Public Administration Erik Slottner conveyed Sweden’s preliminary positions to the commissioner responsible for public procurement issues.

The Government has decided to provide SEK 20 million in support to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in 2025. For a number of years, Sweden has been the third-largest donor in the world in support of free and independent media, and this decision is part of our continued efforts to support journalists and independent media. Following the United States’ withdrawal of its support to RFE/RL, people in many countries risk not having access to free media. Sweden’s support to RFE/RL helps journalists continue to broadcast independent and fact-based information to locations where media freedom is limited.

On 5 May 2025, Sweden was reviewed in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) within the framework of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Every UN Member State undergoes this process every five years; Sweden has previously been reviewed in 2010, 2015 and 2020. State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dag Hartelius led the delegation that took part in the UPR in Geneva.

On Tuesday 6 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Iceland’s President Halla Tómasdóttir for bilateral talks at Rosenbad. The meeting took place in connection with Ms Tómasdóttir’s three-day State Visit at the invitation of HM The King.

Sweden is the world’s third-largest donor in support of free and independent media. This position is now being strengthened with its new SEK 70 million in support to one of the world’s foremost networks for investigative journalism, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

On 1 – 2 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard visited London to meet the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. During the visit, Ms Malmer Stenergard participated in a celebration of a Swedish-British research collaboration together with the King and Queen of Sweden, and met Swedes living in London.

On 6–7 May, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will travel to Rovaniemi in northern Finland to take part in the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) defence ministers meeting.

On Tuesday 6 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will receive Iceland’s President Halla Tómasdóttir for a bilateral meeting at Rosenbad. A joint press conference will be held after the meeting. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the President’s State Visit at the invitation of His Majesty the King.

Joint Statement by the Nordic-Baltic-Weimar Ministers of Foreign Affairs on April 29 2025.

Iceland’s President Halla Tómasdóttir is paying a State Visit to Sweden at the invitation of His Majesty the King. The President is accompanied by her spouse Björn Skúlason, Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir and Minister for Health Alma Möller, together with a delegation from the business sector.

Nine years have passed since Ahmadreza Djalali was imprisoned and then sentenced to death in Iran. Ahmadreza Djalali is being held under very difficult conditions and his poor health is deteriorating further. This is extremely worrying. The Swedish Government demands that Iran immediately release Ahmadreza Djalali on humanitarian grounds so that he can be reunited with his family. I want Ahmadreza Djalali and his relatives to know that my and the Swedish Government’s efforts to secure his release continue with full force. Sweden and the EU continue to contribute to strong international pressure on Iran.

On 23 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard received Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Attaf in Stockholm. The purpose of the visit was to deepen cooperation between the two countries, primarily in terms of trade, and also to discuss security challenges in the region.