Maria Malmer Stenergard visits London

Relations between Sweden and the United Kingdom have significantly deepened in recent years, in part due to a comprehensive strategic partnership signed in 2023 and Sweden becoming a NATO ally in 2024. Both Sweden and the UK prioritise support to Ukraine, which has also had strong public support in both countries. The foreign ministers discussed additional measures to assist Ukraine and constrain Russia. They also discussed joint efforts to strengthen Europe’s security and defence.

Sweden and the UK have recently announced significant investments in the defence sector and the two countries’ defence industries cooperate extremely closely. The relationship between the EU and the UK was another central topic during the meeting. There is a stated ambition to establish a security and defence partnership between the EU and the UK, which Sweden views very positively.

On 2 May, the Swedish Embassy hosted a celebration to mark the third anniversary of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sweden and the UK on life sciences. The King and Queen of Sweden, who took part in the signing of the MoU in 2022, were also guests at the ceremony. The collaboration is one example of the close ties between Sweden and the UK as leaders within research and innovation. It is run by the Swedish Research and Innovation Centre at the Swedish Embassy in London and Business Sweden, and includes companies such as Swedish-British Astra Zeneca.  

Ms Malmer Stenergard also took the opportunity to meet Swedes living in London to speak about the Swedish Government’s priorities, and to listen to their questions and views.