FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Swedish foreign policy is based on the premise that national security is best served by staying free of alliances in peacetime in order to remain neutral in the event of war. In 2002, Sweden revised its security doctrine. The new security doctrine still states that "Sweden pursues a policy of non-participation in military alliances," but permits cooperation in response to threats against peace and security. The Swedish Government devotes particular attention to issues of disarmament, arms control, and nuclear nonproliferation and has contributed importantly to UN and other international peacekeeping efforts, including the NATO-led peacekeeping forces in the Balkans (KFOR). Sweden also contributes to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan and assumed leadership of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Mazar e-Sharif in March 2006.
Sweden participates actively in the United Nations and its specialized and
related agencies, including the World Bank, World Trade Organization (WTO), Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Labor Organization (ILO),
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (USESCO), World Health Organization (WHO),
and others including as a member of the Security Council in 1997-98. In January
1995, Sweden became a full member of the European Union after a referendum in
late 1994 indicated that 52.3% of participants wanted to join. Sweden became a
member in part due to its increasing isolation outside the economic framework of
the Maastricht Treaty. Sweden is a member of NATO's Partnership for Peace (PFP)
and participates in numerous international peacekeeping operations under UN
auspices. Sweden also cooperates closely with its Nordic neighbors, formally in
economic and social matters through the Nordic Council of Ministers and
informally in political matters through direct consultation.
Swedish governments do not consider that nonalignment precludes taking outspoken
positions in international affairs. Government leaders have favored national
liberation movements that enjoy broad support among developing world countries,
with notable attention to Africa. During the Cold War, Sweden was suspicious of
the superpowers, which it saw as making decisions affecting small countries
without always consulting those countries. With the end of the Cold War, that
suspicion has lessened somewhat, although Sweden still chooses to remain
nonaligned.
U.S.-SWEDEN
RELATIONS
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 democracy and freedom. Swedish-American friendship is buttressed by the presence of nearly 14 million Americans of Swedish heritage. Both countries in 1988 celebrated the 350th anniversary of the first Swedish settlement in the United States.
Embassy Stockholm's "One Big Thing" Alternative Energy Initiative
In September 2006, Embassy Stockholm launched the "One Big Thing" initiative, a mission-wide project to collaborate with Sweden on achieving a breakthrough in alternative energy. As the Embassy's highest priority, the One Big Thing encompasses four goals focusing on technology/research and development; financing and investment; public awareness; and policy. Accomplishments to date include a U.S. $5 million grant from the U.S. government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Swedish Biofuels AB, a company that produces biofuels for jet engines. The Embassy assisted Volvo in bringing its public/private partnership funding proposal for research on improved efficiency for heavy trucks to the attention of senior Department of Energy (DOE) officials, resulting in a $12 million agreement between the two governments and Volvo to fund several different projects. The Embassy arranged for the Saab 9.5 Biofuel car to be sent to DOE for testing to validate performance claims. In April 2007, Ambassador Wood introduced 30 Swedish alternative energy companies to American venture capital firms at a California seminar. As of January 2008, this list of Investable companies has grown to include 41 companies. In May 2007, the Embassy and the State Department in Washington initiated a meeting between President Bush and Prime Minister Reinfeldt at the White House to discuss climate change and U.S.-Swedish cooperation, and facilitated the Prime Minister's visit to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado. These meetings led to the conclusion and signing of a U.S.-Sweden biofuels cooperation agreement in June 2007. Sweden's Wallenberg Foundation has agreed to fund a Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Alternative Energy Technology at Chalmers University in Gothenburg.
Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Michael M. Wood
Deputy Chief of Mission--Robert J. Silverman
Political Counselor--Casey Christensen
Economic Counselor--Olivia Hilton
Agricultural Counselor--Roger Wentzel
Public Affairs Counselor--Robert B. Hilton
Administrative Counselor--Mary J. Tierlynck
Commercial Counselor--Keith Curtis
Defense Attaché--Col. Bruce H. Acker
Consul--Jonas Wechsler
The U.S. Embassy in Stockholm is at Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 31, S-115 89 Stockholm, Sweden. Telephone: 46-8-783-5300, Fax: 46-8-661-1964, Internet: http://stockholm.usembassy.gov/
