Poland in Sweden

The Royal Couple was officially welcomed at the Presidential Palace by the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, and his spouse. The ceremony included an honour guard by the Representative Company of the Polish Armed Forces. Official delegations from both countries held plenary talks chaired by the President of Poland and the King of Sweden, followed by a joint press meeting.

This is a historic visit, the first in 15 years visit by The King of Sweden. It corroborates the excellent shape of Polish–Swedish relations nowadays. I am very pleased to see His Majesty accompanied by Ministers, and Government Representatives, and also, Entrepreneurs whose participation in the visit lends it an important business dimension, noted President Karol Nawrocki during the press conference.

“(…) the Baltic Sea, which on the map may appear to separate Poland and Sweden, has always connected us. Its waters have carried merchants, scholars, artists, soldiers, and dreams between our shores. It has never been a border – it has been a bridge. (…)”, King Carl XVI Gustaf noted.

The programme included meetings between the King and senior Polish officials: Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Speaker of the Sejm Włodzimierz Czarzasty, and Speaker of the Senate Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska.

Numerous accompanying events were held during the visit. One of them was the Total Defence Forum, during which the ministers responsible for civil defence – Marcin Kierwiński and Carl-Oskar Bohlin – signed a letter of intent on cooperation in this field.

“As close allies and neighbours, we are building a common front for a safer Baltic Sea region. Polish–Swedish cooperation is strategic, based not only on information exchange within civil protection systems, but also on mutual rescue and humanitarian assistance in times of crisis,” said Minister Kierwiński.

At the Polish–Swedish Conference on Innovation, Investment and Entrepreneurship, held at the Copernicus Science Centre, representatives of both governments participated, including Minister of Finance Andrzej Domański, alongside a delegation of over 60 Swedish companies and their Polish partners.

“We can learn from Sweden long-term thinking in innovation policy, building mature innovation ecosystems and fostering effective cooperation between science and business. Poland, in turn, offers a dynamic growth approach, proven resilience to global challenges, and a wealth of scientific talent,” Minister Domański said.

The Swedish delegation also visited cultural institutions, including the Museum of Warsaw, where scholars from both countries discussed shared Polish–Swedish heritage. A visit to the Ukrainian School in Warsaw provided an opportunity to meet Ukrainian children studying in Poland. The event was attended by Minister of Education Barbara Nowacka.

The third day of the visit took place in Gdańsk. The Royal Couple laid wreaths at the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers and met Lech Wałęsa at the European Solidarity Centre. They also visited the Museum of the Second World War, accompanied by the President of Poland and his spouse.

The Swedish delegation took part in the Baltic Sea Security Talks at Wybrzeże Theatre, focusing on regional security and defence cooperation.

“The entry of a Swedish Navy submarine into the port of Gdynia carries symbolic meaning. It reflects allied capabilities, cooperation, and shared responsibility. We are also meeting on a symbolic day – 27 years since Poland joined NATO. Sweden, as the most recent member, has strengthened the Alliance,” said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.

“Poland is emerging as one of Europe’s leading powers. Your engagement in the security of the Baltic Sea region and 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 – united by history, geography, shared challenges and a common future. (...)”

“We should build a Swedish–Polish axis of cooperation in defence and security, stretching from Kiruna in the north to Zakopane in the south, centred around the area between Gdańsk and Karlskrona in the Baltic Sea,” said Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.

On the margins of the visit, bilateral meetings were held between the ministers of foreign affairs, defence, and culture. Defence Minister Pål Jonson visited the Naval Port in Gdynia, where he boarded the Swedish submarine HMS Uppland together with Deputy Prime Minister Kosiniak-Kamysz. Talks between the foreign ministers focused on bilateral cooperation, European security, and support for Ukraine. Discussions between the ministers of culture addressed strengthening cultural cooperation, developing creative sectors, and the role of culture in building societal resilience.

Queen Silvia also carried out a separate programme. Together with the First Lady of Poland, Marta Nawrocka, she visited, among others, the Grand Theatre – National Opera in Warsaw. The Queen, alongside Minister Parisa Liljestrand, participated in a seminar on the Barnahus model, aimed at supporting its implementation in Poland. In Gdańsk, Queen Silvia, the First Lady, and Minister Liljestrand also visited the Children’s Support Centre run by the Empowering Children Foundation, which operates based on the Barnahus model and provides comprehensive assistance to children affected by violence.

Photo: Krzysztof Mystkowski