Speech by the Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Baltic Sea Security Talks in Gdansk

Government Offices of Sweden

Speech by Maria Malmer Stenergard

Published 13 March 2026

Speech by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard at the Baltic Sea Security Talks in Gdansk, 12 March 2026. Check against delivery.

Your Majesties, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

For generations, Swedes have admired Poland’s struggle for freedom and democracy.

Gdansk has become a symbol of that struggle, as the birthplace of the Solidarity movement. It is a city whose name represents something bigger than the place itself.

Gdansk has become a beacon of democracy, dignity and the defence of fundamental freedoms. This city shows that people with courage and conviction can change the course of history.

Sweden stood firmly by the Polish people as you paved the way for the dissolution of the communist bloc.

When martial law was imposed in Poland in December 1981, ordinary Swedes mobilised to send hundreds of thousands of relief shipments to Poland. The Swedish Postal Service even removed shipping fees for all packages to Poland.

Polish history since then is a tale of immense efforts to build an independent, prosperous and democratic state, firmly anchored in NATO and the EU. It is a success story and an inspiration for the countries that followed.

During this state visit, I have seen so many examples of this Polish success story. In defence, innovation and entrepreneurship – to name but a few areas.

Simply put, Poland is a role model for other nations, and I see an enormous potential in the partnership between our two countries.

Today, I will focus on the Swedish-Polish security partnership. I believe that Gdansk is the perfect place to do this, because you don’t need to go far to see the sea that unites us: the Baltic Sea. The Baltic Sea is our home, and we will defend it together as Allies against Russian expansionism.

Your Majesties, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Two weeks ago, my colleague Radek Sikorski stated in the Sejm that the countries in the Baltic Sea region “are united by economic and social ties, threat assessment and determination to take joint action”. I could have said exactly the same thing in the Swedish Riksdag.

During the past few years, our countries have turned towards each other more and more. Not just because we like each other, but because we need each other. In the 2020s, Poland and Sweden are perfect partners.

There are several reasons for this:

• Because we have the same clear-eyed view of how to handle the threat from Russia;
• Because of Poland’s increased dependence on the Baltic Sea region for your energy needs;
• Because of Sweden’s accession to NATO, which opened new possibilities to deepen our military cooperation;
• And because of the structure of our economies, industries, and labour markets.

This is the reality that we have sought to capture in the Strategic Partnership which was first signed in 2011, then upgraded and expanded in 2024.

Today, our interests, challenges and opportunities are more intertwined than ever.

Your Majesties, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Poland has emerged as one of Europe’s leading powers. Your engagement in the security of the Baltic Sea region and of Europe is vital to us.

As NATO Allies, strategic partners and neighbours, Poland and Sweden are two pillars of security in the Baltic Sea region, with shared history, geography, and challenges – and a common future.

As for the challenges – we are fully aware what they consist of.

For the foreseeable future, Russia will continue to threaten the security in the Baltic Sea region, and test our readiness to respond – under, on, and above the sea. Overtly and covertly.

They will exploit any weakness they can find.

The task that lies ahead of us is clear: Deter Russia and preserve security.

How will we do this? By not moving an inch. By being steadfast and relentless. And by joining forces.

In February, Prime Ministers Tusk and Kristersson tasked the Foreign and Defence Ministers of our countries to further develop a vision for deeper cooperation on security and defence, to be signed before the summer.

My ambition here is simple but far-reaching: that Sweden and Poland can act as one by combining our political, security and defence capabilities. We should build a Swedish-Polish defence and security vertical, stretching from Kiruna in the North to Zakopane in the South, centered around the strait between Gdansk and Karlskrona in the Baltic Sea.

This collaboration should be threefold and cover defence, strategic political cooperation, and defence industry.

First, defence cooperation through joint exercises and operations under water, as well as deploying military capabilities on both sides of the Baltic Sea.

Second, strategic political cooperation. We are considerably likeminded in the most important issues: on Russia, Baltic Sea security and Ukraine. This is an advantage that we must make use of.

Third, cooperation in the defence industry, including possibilities of production in Poland, technology transfer, and significant industry-to-industry investments in the Polish defence sector.

This will benefit NATO, the EU, Poland, Sweden and all Allies around the Baltic Sea.

In this regard, Poland’s choice of Sweden as your partner for the ORKA programme has been crucial, as it opens up for essentially limitless underwater cooperation.

Your Majesties, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I also have to say a few words about Ukraine, as Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine has now entered its fifth year.

Sweden and Poland are working hand in hand to provide necessary military and civilian support to Ukraine.

I want to commend Poland for the solidarity shown with Ukraine, and for the crucial contribution, as a neighbour, this country makes in our collective ability to help Ukrainian forces fighting on the frontlines.

Ukraine has consistently shown that it is ready for peace.

In contrast, we have seen how Russia has taken advantage of the extreme winter cold to intensify its brutal attacks against Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure.

These are not the actions of a country that seeks peace. Rather, these are the actions of a country that violates international law and has no respect for human life and dignity.

Let me be clear: Russia will fail in its attempts to undermine Ukraine, just as it is failing on the battlefield.

The Russian economy is struggling – its energy revenues in January were down by half compared to January last year. Russia is currently losing soldiers faster than it can recruit new ones – 1,000 casualties per day, according to some estimates.

Neither has Russia been able to protect its friends in Syria, Iran or Venezuela.

We must not have any illusions about Russia’s intentions. Its objectives remain unchanged, and they extend far the borders of Ukraine. We are in the midst of a long-term confrontation and we must meet Russia from a position of strength – politically, economically and militarily.

We cannot change the Kremlin’s objectives, but we can change its calculus by increasing pressure on Russia and by continuing to strengthen Ukraine. We have the cards. Time is not on Russia’s side.

Your Majesties, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As Prime Minister Tusk and others have put it, it is a paradox that 500 million Europeans are asking 300 million Americans to defend them against 140 million Russians.

Today, I think that a far greater number of those 500 million Europeans have understood that we must do more to take responsibility for our own security.

This is promising for the future. Sweden is ready to do its part and continue increasing its efforts for security in Europe. At home, through the support to Ukraine, and shoulder-to-shoulder with its partners in NATO and the EU.

And Poland is our partner of choice in this endeavour.

Thank you.