International

The report "A Swedish Strategy for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services" aims to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity in Sweden. It is Sweden’s contribution to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Framework for biodiversity.

On 9 June, leading researchers, decision-makers, healthcare actors and patient organisations from Sweden and the US gathered in Stockholm for the US–Sweden Cancer Summit 2026: Metastasis – from mechanism to cure.

On 15 June, a hub for Ukrainians in Sweden is being inaugurated. The Hub is a new meeting place that will provide support, guidance and information to Ukrainians in Sweden. Minister for Migration Johan Forssell will attend the inauguration together with Deputy Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine for European Integration Ilona Havronska and representatives of the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), Swedish government agencies, civil society and the Ukrainian diaspora.

The Government has presented a new support package with a focus on democracy and strengthened civil society in Eastern Europe for SEK 30 million for 2026–2028, of which SEK 17 million is earmarked for 2026. The support includes well-established civil society organisations in Europe, with which Sweden has had excellent cooperation over a long time.

Sweden is providing SEK 120 million to support the World Health Organization’s work to achieve better global health, which is of great importance to global health security and people in crisis-affected areas. The WHO’s role is of vital importance and central to how the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is handled.

On Thursday 18 June, Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will attend the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence in Brussels.

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.

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.

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.

The Government has presented a support package focused on democracy and free and fair elections in Eastern Europe for 2026 and 2027. The democracy support totals SEK 13.35 million and will go to local elections observation and greater integrity of elections and resilience against disinformation in Armenia and Moldova.

To mitigate security threats posed by certain property holdings, an inquiry has been appointed to propose changes to the Expropriation Act, i.e. the legislation under which a property owner may be compelled to transfer their property holding. The purpose is to ensure that Sweden’s Government can act when a property is at risk of being used in a way that threatens national security.

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 2–3 June, ministers, decision-makers and experts from Europe will convene in Stockholm for FOREST EUROPE’s tenth Ministerial Conference, hosted by Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren. The Conference also represents the highlight of Sweden’s chairmanship of FOREST EUROPE in 2025–2026.

The Government has decided to issue a second guarantee to the World Bank that will enable a loan to Ukraine of approximately SEK 2.5 billion. The loan will be used to cover basic things, such as public expenditure in the Ukrainian central government budget, following Russia’s full-scale invasion.

On 11–13 May, Minister for Health Care Elisabet Lann and Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson visited Kyiv and Lviv. The aim of their visit was to gain insight into Ukraine’s health and medical care and the situation for women during Russia’s full-scale invasion.

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.

Today, 28 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is receiving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a meeting in Sweden. Following their meeting, the Prime Minister and the President will hold a joint press conference to make an announcement in the area of air defence.

On Thursday 28 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will visit the Uppland Wing in Uppsala. In connection with the visit, he will hold a press conference to present news related to international cooperation on air defence.

At the summit held between Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 17 May, the countries announced deeper cooperation aimed at reducing industrial emissions. Sweden and India are to develop a new work programme for the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) initiative for 2027–2030.

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.