PM Modi, Swedish PM Kristersson announce India-Sweden strategic partnership

India and Sweden on Sunday announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Gothenburg according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs MEAThe announcement came during PM Modirsquos official visit to Sweden at the invitation of Kristersson Both leaders discussed expanding cooperation in areas including trade defence emerging technologies climate transition innovation and counterterrorismIndiaSweden ties elevated to strategic partnershipThe two countries agreed to upgrade their bilateral ties into a Strategic Partnership citing their longstanding friendship growing cooperation and shared strategic interestsAccording to the MEA the new partnership will be based on four pillars mdash strategic dialogue for stability and security nextgeneration economic partnership emerging technologies and trusted connectivity and cooperation on sustainability and resilienceAn upgraded Joint Action Plan for 2026ndash2030 was also endorsed to guide the implementation of the partnership frameworkFocus on trade investment and supply chainsBoth leaders stressed the importance of economic security and resilient supply chains India and Sweden announced a shared objective of doubling bilateral trade and investment within the next five yearsThe initiative will be supported through the ldquoMake in Indiardquo and ldquoMade with Swedenrdquo programmes The leaders also acknowledged the role of the IndiaSweden Business Leaders Round Table in strengthening economic ties between the two countriesThe two sides also agreed to organise a bilateral summit titled ldquoIndiandashSweden Stronger Together towards 2047rdquo in India in 2027Cooperation in AI technology and space sectorThe Prime Ministers agreed to deepen collaboration in digitalisation artificial intelligence and emerging technologies The MEA said both sides would strengthen cooperation through the SwedenndashIndia Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor SITACIndia and Sweden also agreed to launch an upgraded ldquoJoint Innovation Partnership 20rdquo and establish an IndiaSweden Joint Science and Technology CentreThe two leaders also discussed cooperation in the space sector The statement highlighted ongoing collaboration between Indian Space Research Organisation and the Swedish Institute for Space Physics on Indiarsquos Venus Orbiter MissionLeaders discuss climate transition and critical mineralsThe leaders welcomed the expansion of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition LeadIT initiative and agreed to continue efforts aimed at accelerating industrial transition and sustainability goalsBoth countries also agreed to cooperate in advanced mining and mineral processing technologies particularly for critical minerals and rare earth supply chains The MEA statement said the partnership would focus on strengthening domestic value addition and resilient supply chainsStrong condemnation of terrorismPM Modi and Kristersson strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all forms including crossborder terrorism The leaders specifically condemned the April 22 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and KashmirThe two countries called for dismantling terror infrastructure and safe havens and reiterated support for coordinated international action against terrorism under international lawThey also reaffirmed commitment towards disrupting terror financing channels through platforms such as the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force FATFSweden backs India for permanent UNSC membershipThe Swedish Prime Minister reiterated Swedenrsquos support for Indiarsquos permanent membership in a reformed and expanded United Nations Security CouncilBoth leaders also stressed the importance of the IndiaNordic Partnership and expressed anticipation for the third IndiaNordic Summit scheduled to be held in Oslo on May 19 2026With inputs from IANS