President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed a desire to strengthen bilateral relations with Sweden. During a meeting at Malacañang Palace, Swedish Ambassador-designate Anna Ferry conveyed that Sweden considers the Philippines a “priority partner,” emphasizing shared values such as respect for human rights, upholding democracy, and pursuing progress. She also highlighted Sweden’s support for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the principle of freedom of navigation. citeturn0search2
In response, President Marcos noted the significant growth in relations between the two countries, stating:
“You come in a particularly auspicious time when the development of relations between our two countries has grown significantly.”
The Philippines and Sweden established diplomatic relations on January 17, 1947, and have since seen increasing cooperation in trade and investments. In 2023, Swedish investments in the Philippines reached USD 11.81 million, up from USD 5.74 million in 2022. Additionally, Sweden ranked as the Philippines’ 41st trading partner, 45th export market, and 38th import supplier during the same year.
These developments underscore a mutual commitment to enhancing diplomatic and economic ties between the Philippines and Sweden.
For a visual summary of these diplomatic engagements, you can watch the following video:
