PM Modi Awarded Sweden’s Order of the North Star During Landmark Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded Sweden’s prestigious “Order of the North Star,” marking a major moment in India-Sweden relations. Reacting to the honour, Prime Minister Modi said the award was not just a personal recognition but an honour for all 1.4 billion people of India. He also described it as a tribute to the people and institutions in Sweden that have worked tirelessly to strengthen ties between the two nations over the years.

Prime Minister Modi shared his message on social media after holding bilateral talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Gothenburg, Sweden. In his statement, Prime Minister Modi expressed hope that the friendship between India and Sweden would continue to grow stronger in the years ahead.

During the high-level meeting, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden also participated and conveyed warm wishes from King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. Prime Minister Modi, in turn, extended his greetings to the Swedish monarch on the occasion of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 80th birthday.

The bilateral consultations between the two leaders covered the entire spectrum of India-Sweden relations. Both sides acknowledged the rapidly growing momentum in cooperation across several sectors, including trade and investment, innovation, defence, digitalisation, green transition, research, education, space technology, small and medium enterprises, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Kristersson reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening ties based on shared democratic values, innovation, sustainability, and research-driven partnerships. They stressed the importance of regular political dialogue and institutional engagement to guide the expanding partnership between the two countries.

One of the biggest outcomes of the meeting was the decision to elevate India-Sweden ties to the level of a Strategic Partnership. The new partnership framework will focus on four major pillars — Strategic Dialogue for Stability and Security, Next-Generation Economic Partnership, Emerging Technologies and Trusted Connectivity, and Shaping Tomorrow Together through cooperation in people, climate, health, and resilience.

To give practical shape to the Strategic Partnership, both leaders adopted the India-Sweden Joint Action Plan 2026–2030. The roadmap outlines cooperation across political, economic, technological, climate, security, and social sectors over the next five years.

The leaders also highlighted the importance of the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, saying it has opened a new chapter in economic and commercial cooperation. Both sides agreed to continue working for the early implementation of the agreement to strengthen trade, investment, and technology partnerships.

Prime Minister Modi appreciated Sweden’s continued engagement with India in areas such as clean technologies, sustainable mobility, advanced manufacturing, innovation, and digital transformation. Prime Minister Kristersson praised India’s rapid progress in digital infrastructure and Artificial Intelligence, and also acknowledged the positive contribution made by the Indian community in Sweden’s economy and innovation ecosystem.

Prime Minister Modi invited greater Swedish participation in India’s growth journey and encouraged deeper collaboration in future technologies and industrial development.

The two leaders also exchanged views on important regional and global issues. They emphasized the urgent need for reforms in the United Nations and other multilateral institutions to better reflect current global realities. Prime Minister Modi thanked Sweden for its strong support in the global fight against terrorism.

Both nations reiterated their commitment to promoting global peace, stability, resilient supply chains, and sustainable economic growth. The visit is being seen as a significant step toward expanding strategic cooperation between India and Sweden at a time of growing geopolitical and economic partnerships across Europe and Asia.