- Sweden and Japan have strong bonds of friendship. Our diplomatic relations stretch back over 150 years. The strategic partnership between Sweden and Japan takes the relationship between our countries to a new level and paves the way for long-term cooperation in security and defense, trade and investments, as well as research and innovation, said the Prime Minister in a press release from the Prime Minister's Office.
According to the Prime Minister's office, Shigeru Ishiba welcomed the Swedish delegation's visit to Japan and expressed his support for upgrading the relationship between Japan and Sweden to a strategic partnership. Ishiba emphasized the importance of gradually strengthening security cooperation, particularly in light of Sweden's NATO membership, and further developing economic cooperation in areas such as green transition, digitalization, and life sciences.
The heads of government also confirmed plans to concretize cooperation on defense equipment and technologies, based on the existing bilateral agreement on the transfer of defense equipment and technology. Japan's Defense Minister Nakatani and Defense Minister Pål Jonson (M) also met today to discuss common security challenges.
Ulf Kristersson is in Japan along with several ministers and representatives from Swedish industry.
The Prime Minister's Office further writes that Energy and Business Minister Ebba Busch (KD) also signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding with her Japanese counterpart, Yoji Muto, to deepen Sweden's and Japan's cooperation in energy and innovation.