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| Marco Rubio & Maria Malmer Stenergard |
On June 20, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in Washington, D.C. with Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard. The official State Department readout (attributed to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce) reports that Rubio and Stenergard discussed various security issues. Key topics included the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague, the Russia–Ukraine war, tensions in the Middle East, and the need for resilient supply chains. Rubio thanked Sweden for endorsing a NATO defense spending goal of 5% of GDP and for Sweden’s significant contributions to European and transatlantic security.
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NATO Summit (The Hague): The leaders reviewed preparations for the 2025 NATO summit, scheduled for June 24–25 in the Netherlands. They emphasized allied commitments on defense; Rubio noted that virtually every NATO country will meet or exceed the 2% of GDP guideline and that they aim to agree on a 5% spending target by the decade’s end. (Sweden itself joined NATO in 2024 and is aligning its defense plans with this target.)
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Defense Spending: Rubio specifically expressed appreciation for “Sweden’s support for NATO Allies committing to spend five percent of GDP on defense”. At a June 13 press conference, Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed Sweden will meet a new NATO target of 5% of GDP by the next summit. He said at least 3.5% will fund core military forces and another 1.5% will go to related defense investments (civil defense, cyber security, etc.). This reflects Sweden’s pledge to raise its own defense spending (from about 2.7% today) and helps pave the way for a NATO-wide agreement on higher defense budgets.
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Russia–Ukraine War: Both officials reaffirmed support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s ongoing invasion. Stenergard noted that “Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine has again put the spotlight on the interconnectedness of security, democratic values and institutions,” and she vowed that “Sweden will continue our steadfast support to Ukraine’s fight for freedom, independence and democracy”. This aligns with U.S. policy to bolster Ukraine and deter further Russian aggression.
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Middle East Tensions: Rubio and Stenergard also discussed the rapidly escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. In mid-June 2025 the State Department even set up a Middle East task force to coordinate assistance for Americans amid Israeli-Iranian hostilities. The meeting likely covered U.S.-Swedish efforts to deescalate the region, protect civilians, and counter destabilizing activities.
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Secure Supply Chains: Both leaders noted the importance of resilient supply chains for critical technologies and materials. They acknowledged that reliable supply lines are vital for defense production and economic security. This reflects broader U.S. and NATO concerns about industrial resilience after recent disruptions. (The readout explicitly mentions “the importance of secure supply chains” as a meeting topic.)
NATO Summit and Defense Spending
The discussion of the NATO summit centered on building consensus for higher defense budgets. Rubio has publicly stated that by the Hague summit all members will have agreed on a path to reach 5% of GDP on defense. In fact, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte (also Prime Minister of the Netherlands) had just announced plans for a “broad defense spending target of 5%” to be adopted by NATO leaders. Sweden – NATO’s newest member (it joined in March 2024) – is aligning with this goal. Prime Minister Kristersson confirmed Sweden will meet the 5% target, allocating 3.5% of GDP to core military spending and 1.5% to supplementary defense needs (cyber, civil defense, etc.). Rubio praised this commitment as a major contribution to European and transatlantic security.
At the summit, allies will also discuss industrial and technological collaboration. U.S. and Swedish officials have both urged stronger coordination of defense production (from munitions to semiconductors) to avoid gaps in critical supplies. Though not detailed in the readout, “secure supply chains” was highlighted, indicating plans to deepen U.S.–Swedish cooperation on technologies like advanced chips, critical minerals, and cybersecurity measures.
Russia–Ukraine War and Support for Ukraine
The meeting reaffirmed U.S. and Swedish solidarity with Ukraine. Rubio and Stenergard agreed that Russia’s war – now in its third year – remains a top security challenge. Sweden has been one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters, supplying military aid and hosting Ukrainian refugees. In her Atlantic Council speech days earlier, Stenergard explicitly tied Sweden’s support to democratic values, saying Sweden is inspired by “Ukraine’s unwavering courage” and will continue to back Ukraine’s fight. Rubio, similarly, has emphasized that NATO must stand firm against Russian aggression. Their discussion likely covered military aid packages, sanctions enforcement, and planning for post-war recovery. This meeting helped synchronize U.S. and Swedish policies on sustaining Ukraine’s defense and upholding international law.
Middle East Security Concerns
Another key topic was the volatile situation in the Middle East. In June 2025, Iran and Israel were exchanging missile and drone strikes, raising fears of a wider war. The U.S. responded by creating a State Department Middle East Task Force to monitor the conflict and assist U.S. citizens and embassies. Rubio and Stenergard discussed these developments, reflecting U.S. interest in European support to prevent escalation. Sweden has worked within the EU and UN to de-escalate regional conflicts; the ministers likely talked about humanitarian issues, protecting Israeli and Iranian civilians, and countering extremist spillover. The readout’s mention of the “situation in the Middle East” signals that both countries see the Iran-Israel clashes as a pressing concern requiring close consultation.
Sweden’s Contributions to Transatlantic Security
Secretary Rubio publicly thanked Sweden for its growing role in defense. As a NATO member and EU nation, Sweden has committed to robust defense spending and collective security. Its pledge to hit 5% GDP (with 3.5% on core defense) shows Sweden’s willingness to “step up” per U.S. calls. Sweden also hosts vital defense industries (e.g. Saab for fighter jets) and supports sanctions and aid for Ukraine. Foreign Minister Stenergard noted that Sweden funds democracy promotion and has increased military training for Ukraine. In sum, the meeting underscored the close U.S.–Sweden partnership: both leaders agreed that a strong transatlantic alliance, with high defense spending and cooperative security measures, is essential in the current global environment.
Sources: Official State Department readout and news reports.
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