During the meeting, the ministers discussed security threats to the Baltic states and strengthening the coordinated response of the European Union and NATO to common challenges. Poland and Sweden maintain close security cooperation, which has intensified following Sweden’s accession to NATO.

The talks also focused on hybrid threats from Russia and Belarus, including the fight against the shadow fleet, and opportunities for using Poland’s presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States to build resilience with its closest regional partners.

“The clunker fleet, because that’s what it should be called, as the name aptly reflects what it really is, poses a challenge to the Baltic’s security and environment,” emphasised Deputy Prime Minister Sikorski.

Sweden’s foreign minister stressed that strategic cooperation between Poland and Sweden is a pillar of security in the Baltic Sea.

“We must act together in the Baltic, combining our political, security, and defence capabilities to protect European security. Sweden wants to establish a far-reaching partnership with Poland on defence, security, and industry,” said Maria Malmer Stenergard.

On Ukraine, the ministers agreed that the appropriate response to Russia’s numerous unlawful actions is to continue to tighten sanctions and use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine in financing its defence. Sweden and Poland are also among the countries calling for the unblocking of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

“War costs should be borne by the aggressor, not the European taxpayer. We also need to keep and step up sanctions pressure. Belarus, along with Russia, remains the main destabiliser of regional security in Europe. Our priority remains to ensure security at the Poland-Belarus border. “We support EU enlargement and see it as very important to unlock accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova,” said the head of the Polish MFA.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss issues that are now high on the EU agenda: migration and climate policies.

The ministers’ consultations were part of an intensive bilateral strategic dialogue. Our countries share a comprehensive Strategic Partnership, renewed by the prime ministers of both states in Harpsund, Sweden, in November 2024. The partnership reflects a very similar perception of security challenges—both conventional (the war in Ukraine and its repercussions for Europe’s security) and hybrid ones (attacks on the EU’s external border using illegal migration, attacks on critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, sabotage, disinformation).