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Sweden - United States Relations

The United States and Sweden share a strong and abiding relationship built on a foundation of shared values, cultural ties, trade and investment, and a commitment to resolving global problems such as climate change. The Government of Sweden places high importance on strengthening transatlantic ties and cooperation. Friendship and cooperation between the United States and Sweden is strong and close. The United States welcomes Sweden's membership in NATO's PFP and our ongoing cooperation in promoting global democracy and freedom. Swedish-American friendship is buttressed by the presence of nearly 14 million Americans of Swedish heritage. In 1988, both countries celebrated the 350th anniversary of the first Swedish settlement in the United States.

Friendship and cooperation between the United States and Sweden is strong and close. The United States welcomes Sweden's membership in NATO's PFP and the countries' ongoing cooperation in promoting global democracy and freedom. Sweden provided troops and support to NATO-led peacekeeping forces in the Balkans and Kosovo, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, leadership of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Mazar-e-Sharif, the EU anti-piracy mission ATALANTA off the coast of Somalia, and flew missions to enforce the no-fly zone in Operation Unified Protector in Libya.

The US has no permanent bases nor units in Sweden, but partners with the country in using three strategic facilities there as well as through an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement. Additionally, the Swedish military has participated in exercises Jackal Stone, Bold Avenger, Unified Engagement, Cold Response and others.

America and Sweden are committed to combating terrorism and preventing violent extremism. The suicide bombing in Stockholm, the horrific attacks in Norway, and the arrests of terrorist cells in the region highlight that counterterrorism is a common focus in bilateral and regional relationships.

The United States and Sweden share a strong commitment to political participation of women. This is personified by the inclusion of Sweden’s former Minister of Enterprise and Energy, Maud Olofsson, on Secretary Clinton’s International Council on Women’s Business Leadership.

The United States and Sweden share an important trading partnership and a commitment to green energy. Sweden and the US share common goals of protecting the environment and conserving the Arctic’s biological resources while promoting economic cooperation and protecting Arctic communities with other Arctic Council members.

Sweden recognized the United States on April 3, 1783, when the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and Sweden was signed in Paris. The United States had appointed Benjamin Franklin as Minister Plenipotentiary to Sweden on September 28, 1782. Franklin did not proceed to Sweden, but remained in Paris, where he was already serving as Minister Plenipotentiary to France. The Swedish minister in Paris approached Franklin in 1782 with the suggestion of concluding a treaty between the two entities, remarking that he hoped it would be remembered that “Sweden was the first power in Europe which had voluntarily and without solicitation offered its friendship to the United States.” Franklin informed Congress of this initiative and was then empowered to negotiate with Sweden.

American policymakers were deeply skeptical of Swedish foreign policy in the late 1940s; yet by 1952 the Swedish and u.s. governments exchanged notes confirming that Sweden could procure military technology from the United States on a reimbursable basis, despite the fact that Sweden refused to align itself with the United States. Sweden’s policy of neutrality - the Policy of 1812 - originated when Sweden was geographically caught between Russia and Britain by the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1812, too weak to balance Russian power in the Baltic region. This policy was the means with which Sweden governments managed to stay out of all armed conflicts until the end of the Cold War.

During the Cold War the Scandinavian countries were of political interest to the United States for several reasons. First, they were regarded throughout the world as prime examples of Western democracy. Second, there were strong cultural, sentimental and family ties between Scandinavia and the United States. Third, because the Scandinavian countries enjoy considerable prestige in the international community, their support of US policy was valuable in international organizations and for general propaganda purposes. Fourth, any Soviet threat to Scandinavian security would create severe apprehension among the other northern European NATO allies who would feel seriously exposed.

On 15 February 2006 Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds outlined the Social Democratic government's priorities during the annual plenary foreign policy session of parliament. Freivalds gave a measured call for developing cooperation with the US: "Just as we need a commitment from the USA on global issues, the USA needs the international community to enable it to deal with its own threat scenario."

The two leading parties of the opposition, Moderates and Liberals, call for greater bilateral cooperation with the US. Liberal Cecilia Wigstrom called for closer cooperation with the US, and a recognition of the essential security role it has played in saving Europe from "the Nazis and communism." She also supported the US intervention in Iraq. Christian Democrat Holger Gustafson said the Government always criticized the US, and Social Democrats had sounded nearer to Russia than the US, while the US was the bastion of values of democracy and human rights shared by Sweden. It is clear that the leading parties of the opposition, the Moderates and Liberals, would like to steer Sweden toward a closer relation with the US.

Left Party Alice Astrom decried the US "double standard" on human rights, citing secret prisons, Guantanamo, and US-led interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Green Party Lotta Hedstrom criticized the US for Abu Ghraib, renditions, and CIA flights. She noted that Israel has nuclear weapons, but the US choses to criticize Iran, Korea, and Pakistan. The Left and the Greens will never be converts to Atlanticism, although the later are more issue-oriented. The governing Social Democrats relied on the support of the Greens, which broadly criticizes US policy, and the Left Party, which portrays the US as the source of all that is wrong in the world.