HM The King's speech at meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs
Sofiero Castle, Helsingborg
(The spoken version shall take precedence)
Secretary-General,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to welcome you all to Sofiero Castle!
We are happy to host you at Sofiero for the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs. It reflects both the trust placed in our country and our strong commitment to the Alliance.
Meeting here at Sofiero highlights the close ties with our neighbouring countries and the gateway to the Baltic Sea – a key area for Sweden’s engagement in NATO.
Sofiero Castle is a historic royal estate and served as a summer residence of my grandfather, King Gustaf VI Adolf. The gardens here are renowned for their large collection of rhododendrons, which bloom in early summer. And my grandfather and his English-born spouse, Margareta of Great Britain, were true gardening enthusiasts!
Ladies and gentlemen,
Sweden stands more secure today than before joining NATO. And the Alliance is also stronger with all Nordic and Baltic countries as members.
Being a committed ally, Sweden contributes significantly to NATO’s shared security through our strategic geography and strong military capabilities in the air, on land, and at sea.
Last year, I visited the Swedish NATO troops in Latvia and NATO headquarters.
I had the opportunity to meet briefly with Secretary General Rutte, SACEUR, and several ambassadors. Their message was clear. In light of the security situation, the Alliance is strengthening its collective defence.
The visits underscored how quickly Sweden has become a trusted Ally. In just over two years, Sweden has moved from a position of military non‑alignment to being a reliable security provider within NATO.
More recently, I had the honour of visiting Lviv in Ukraine. I met with President Zelenskyy, war veterans and school children. The courage of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion has made a lasting impact on me. Ukraine shows remarkable determination to resist Russia’s aggression – and you have our full support!
Ladies and gentlemen,
Once again I welcome you to Sweden and to Sofiero Castle and I wish you all a pleasant evening!
Thank you.
