Foreign and security policy

In response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU decided to immobilise the Central Bank of the Russian Federation’s assets in the EU. During the Swedish Presidency of the Council, an EU Working Group was established to investigate the possibility of using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. This work as resulted in the EU’s decision on 21 May to use the net extraordinary revenues generated by the immobilised assets to provide military and macroeconomic support to Ukraine.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies have organised a conference on Belarus to strengthen dialogue with Belarusian democratic forces in exile.

Minister for Defence Pål Jonson will travel to Singapore, Australia and the Philippines in the first week of June. He will participate in the Shangri-La Dialogue international defence summit and several bilateral meetings.

Mr Billström is visiting Texas on 13–15 May. The purpose is to present Sweden’s ambitions as a space nation and foster a good working relationship with Texas in relation to emerging technologies within the space industry.

On 13 May, heads of government of the five Nordic countries and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz met in Stockholm within the framework of a Nordic summit.

The Government has decided to submit the Agreement on Defense Cooperation bill between Sweden and the United States to the Swedish Riksdag. The agreement complements Sweden’s NATO accession and strengthens the country’s defence by facilitating US military presence in Sweden.

A bilateral dialogue between Sweden and the United States took place on 2 May in Washington DC. It was the first of its kind, and a clear manifestation of the close cooperation between the two countries aimed at tackling cyber-related threats and promoting safe digital development.

The text of the following statement was released by the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden on the occasion of the inaugural U.S.-Sweden Cyber and Digital Dialogue.

Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström on the situation in Georgia.

On 2–3 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström will be in Copenhagen to attend this year’s Nordic-African Foreign Ministers Meeting. The agenda includes peace and security, multilateral cooperation, reform of multilateral institutions and increasing trade and investment.

This strategy aims to support actors working for more stable, democratic and sustainable development in the Middle East and North Africa, including in Yemen and Palestine. The strategy applies from 21 March 2024 to 31 December 2027 and provides a total of approximately SEK 2.3 billion.

On Monday 22 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson are taking part in the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and Sudan are on the agenda.

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström at Selwyn College, Cambridge, 16 April 2024. Check against delivery.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU.

On 15–16 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström is travelling to the United Kingdom for a visit in London and Cambridge. During the visit, he will meet with his British counterpart Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Cameron for discussions on bilateral relations, NATO and support to Ukraine.

The Nordic countries welcome the Israeli government’s announcement that life-saving humanitarian assistance to Gaza can be received in the port of Ashdod, that the Erez crossing will be reopened to facilitate entry to north Gaza, and that humanitarian assistance from Jordan entering through Kerem Shalom crossing in the south will be increased.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström is launching a high-level group that will provide expert support to Ukraine’s Government during its EU accession process.

On 3–4 April, Mr Billström will take part in the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Brussels. This is the first time that Sweden will participate as a NATO Ally. A meeting will also be held between NATO foreign ministers and Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba.

On 23–24 April 2024, the President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb will pay a State Visit to Sweden at the invitation of HM The King. The President will be accompanied by a delegation of government and business representatives.