Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, speaking after talks in Warsaw with his Swedish counterpart Maria Malmer Stenergard, said the two countries were now "strategic allies" following Sweden’s accession to NATO last year.
Sikorski announced that King Carl XVI Gustaf is expected to visit Poland next year, signalling what both sides described as a high point in bilateral ties.
The ministers met as Polish Finance and Economy Minister Andrzej Domański attended a parallel business forum in Stockholm.
Bilateral trade between the two countries reached EUR 14.5 billion, Sikorski said, adding that around 700 Swedish companies have recently invested in Poland, many of them in the defence sector.
Focus on Baltic security, sabotage risks
Talks centred on the security situation in the Baltic Sea, including protection of critical maritime and subsea infrastructure and countering Russia’s so-called "shadow fleet," which both ministers said poses risks to regional security and the environment.
Sikorski said that Poland intends to use its current presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, running until July next year, to advance initiatives to safeguard pipelines and other undersea assets.
Stenergard said Sweden was also increasingly exposed to acts of sabotage, though not at the same scale as in Poland, where a weekend incident disrupted a key rail line linking Warsaw with the eastern city of Lublin and the Ukrainian border.
She expressed full solidarity with Poland, citing recent drone incursions into Swedish airspace.
Stenergard reiterated that the countries’ strategic partnership was now a "pillar of security in the Baltic Sea region."
"We need to act as one in the Baltic Sea, combining our political, security and defence capablity to defend European security," she said.
Submarine procurement under scrutiny
Defence cooperation dominated the public comments, with Stenergard promoting Sweden’s bid in Poland’s Orka submarine acquisition programme.
She said Stockholm’s offer has the backing of the UK government and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Sikorski told reporters that the submarine decision, deemed strategic, would be made at Cabinet level rather than by the defence ministry.
Producers from seven countries have submitted bids, he said, promising equal and transparent treatment for all.
He noted that Polish defence firms also "offer competitive solutions" for Sweden.
Ukraine, EU enlargement, migration on agenda
Both ministers said they discussed EU enlargement, the need to unblock accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, continued support for Kyiv’s defence against Russia, and EU policies including the migration pact and the ETS2 emissions system.
In a post on X, the Polish foreign ministry said the ministers had also reaffirmed the two countries’ joint commitment to supporting human rights in Belarus.
(ał/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP