Ministry for Foreign Affairs

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has today, 15 April, summoned the Russian Ambassador in Stockholm.

Sudan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union marking two years of war.

On 8 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard and Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen hosted Hanalys, the high-level foreign and security policy dialogue held at Villa Foresta on Lidingö, Stockholm. The conference brought together hundreds of Swedish and Finnish experts to discuss Ukraine, international law and economic security.

In May 2026, Sweden will host the informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs. Helsingborg has been confirmed as the location of the meeting.

Expo 2025 will take place from 13 April to 13 October in Osaka with the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”. Sweden will take part in the event, with 14 May designated the “national day” for Sweden when the spotlight will be on the country. H.M. The King will lead the Swedish delegation, which will also include Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa together with representatives from Swedish business, Swedish public authorities, academia, research and creative industries.

On 3–4 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard will take part in the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels, which will lay the groundwork for the NATO Summit in The Hague. Cooperation with countries in the Indo-Pacific will also be on the agenda.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard received Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Ali Nafti in Stockholm on 1 April. The purpose of the visit was to deepen cooperation, primarily in terms of trade, but also to discuss regional and global issues and challenges. Mr Ali Nafti was accompanied by a business delegation.

On 24–26 March, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard visited Israel and Palestine. The purpose was to examine how Sweden can contribute to the improvement of the current situation and promote bilateral relations.

The CEO of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Carlos Manuel Rodríguez will visit Stockholm on 1–2 April for meetings with Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa and Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari. In connection with the visit, meetings will also be held with the Riksdag’s Committee on Environment and Agriculture, the business sector, universities, civil society organisations and representatives of public authorities.

On Monday 17 March, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa visited Uganda’s crisis centre – which is established in the event of major disease outbreaks – in response to the ongoing spread of the Ebola virus in the country. Sweden is providing SEK 20 million to Uganda’s Ebola response, to be channelled through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard travelled to India on 17–18 March to take part in the Raisina Dialogue, a conference on security policy. She was accompanied by a delegation of Swedish industry representatives who met with Indian counterparts within the framework of the India Sweden Business Leaders’ Roundtable. In meetings with India’s External Affairs Minister and Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ms Malmer Stenergard discussed how Sweden’s and Europe’s partnership with India can become even stronger.

On 6–8 May 2025, Iceland’s President Halla Tómasdóttir will pay a State Visit to Sweden at the invitation of His Majesty The King. Ms Tómasdóttir will be accompanied by her husband, Björn Skúlason, and representatives of the Icelandic Government and business sector. The Swedish Government will be represented by several ministers.

On 17–19 March, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa is travelling to Uganda. Mr Dousa will visit the north-western part of the country, where Sweden supports host communities that receive refugees.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard is travelling to India on 17–18 March to take part in the Raisina Dialogue, a conference on security policy. During her visit to New Delhi, Ms Malmer Stenergard will also participate in a Swedish-Indian business meeting hosted by India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry. Ms Malmer Stenergard will be joined by CEO of Business Sweden Jan Larsson in an inauguration ceremony to launch a new trading office in India.

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).