Political Consultations in Stockholm Between Foreign Ministry Undersecretary and Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs

On May 26, 2025, Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry for Bilateral Relations, Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Aluloom, held a round of political consultations with the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden, Mr. Dag Hartelius, in Stockholm.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Hartelius welcomed the Undersecretary’s visit, appreciating his response to the invitation, and emphasizing the deep historical relations between Iraq and Sweden and his country’s keenness to develop bilateral cooperation across various areas. On his part, Ambassador Bahr Aluloom expressed his gratitude for the warm welcoming, and emphasized Iraq’s interest in strengthening relations with Sweden on the basis of mutual respect and shared interests.

Regarding regional affairs, the Undersecretary reviewed the characteristics of Iraqi foreign policy, based on “productive diplomacy,” which aims to achieve economic integration with neighboring countries and consolidate the foundations of stability and peace, in addition he highlighted Baghdad’s growing role as a pivotal diplomatic center in the region, noting the convening of the Arab Summit in Baghdad, major strategic initiatives, and Iraq’s role in mediating regional crises.

The two sides agreed on the importance of continuing coordination to ease regional tensions, emphasizing the vital role of diplomacy in addressing crises. They also emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism and confronting growing environmental challenges.

State Secretary Hartelius commended the tangible improvement in the security and economic situation in Iraq, expressing his country’s desire to expand economic cooperation with Baghdad. In this context, Ambassador Bahr Aluloom called on the Swedish side to reassess the security situation in Iraq, noting that the current travel advisories do not reflect the positive developments taking place. As well he emphasized the importance of holding meetings of the Iraqi-Swedish Joint Committee and urged the Swedish government to encourage its companies to invest in the promising Iraqi market.

At the end of the meeting, the two sides affirmed their commitment to continuing communication and activating follow-up mechanisms to implement what was agreed upon, which will contribute to strengthening joint dialogue and serving the interests of the two friendly countries.