![\"Sweden](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Maria-Malmer-Stenergard-1000x750.jpg\")
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Andrew Schneider\/Houston Public Media<\/p>\n
Maria Malmer Stenergard, Sweden\u2019s minister for foreign affairs.<\/p>\n
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden visited Houston this week to inaugurate a new consulate general<\/a> in the city \u2013 the kingdom’s fourth in the United States, including its Washington embassy.<\/p>\n Joining her and leading a diplomatic and trade mission to Texas was Maria Malmer Stenergard<\/a>, Sweden’s minister for foreign affairs since 2024. Malmer Stenergard spoke with Houston Public Media about why Sweden chose Houston for its new consulate as well as about some of the leading foreign policy challenges involving Sweden and the U.S.<\/p>\n Sign up for the Hello, Houston!<\/a> daily newsletter to get local reports like this delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n This interview has been edited for length and clarity.<\/p>\n Tell us a little bit about what led your government to decide to open a consulate general here and what purpose it\u2019s expected to serve.<\/p>\n Click here for more inDepth features.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWell, first of all, I\u2019ve had such a warm welcome here to Texas, and I really appreciate the cooperation that Sweden and Texas already have, and there are such strong people-to-people ties that go way back. But we want to invest in the future, and that is the reason we open this consulate general now. And we believe that there is enormous potential for collaboration in areas such as space, life science, but several areas such as energy as well. So, we have 90 companies approximately already here from Swedish side, and we create around 40,000 jobs, but I think we can do even more.\u201d<\/p>\n What are some of the areas that you see for growth in Swedish-Texas business ties?<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Sweden is ranked as the second-most-innovative country in the world, and we\u2019ve been that for quite some time now. And Texas is also one of the hubs in the world for innovation. And I see an enormous potential in areas like the ones I mentioned, but also in the growing technologies like AI. And we really need to be in the forefront here. In order to be that, we need to collaborate with other companies that are in the forefront, such as here in Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n You were part of a signing ceremony Tuesday morning at Space Center Houston for something called Pax Silica<\/a>. What is the importance of that?<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we are in a very shaky world. We need to collaborate with the ones that are likeminded, and we need to secure the supply chains for necessary technologies, such as the technologies needed for the development of AI. And therefore, I\u2019m very grateful for the initiative that the U.S. has taken. The Pax Silica is a collaboration between companies that are to a large extent, likeminded, and I see great possibilities for us to secure these supply chains and make sure that we are more resilient in the future, less depending on partners that that we cannot trust.\u201d<\/p>\n You\u2019ve had to deal with quite a few significant foreign policy challenges in your few years as foreign minister. What are some of the ones that are occupying the most of your time right now?<\/p>\n \u201cWell, first of all, that\u2019s very true. I usually say that it\u2019s like playing Whac-A-Mole. You know, when you hit one guy, the other one just pops up. So, there is constantly something going on.<\/p>\n \u201cOur foreign policy foremost priority is the support to Ukraine<\/a>, and Russia poses a big threat to Sweden and to Europe for the foreseeable future. And how the war ends will affect the security [of Europe] for at least a generation to come. Therefore, we provide a huge support to Ukraine, but we also take initiatives constantly to put more pressure on Russia. So, this is my number one priority.<\/p>\n \u201cBut then I\u2019m also very, of course, occupied with investing in our own security. And now we see a burden shift from us to Europe and Canada that should have been done a long time ago. But we are now investing a lot in our own security, and we need to show that Europe is worth protecting.\u201d<\/p>\n How is the U.S. and Israel\u2019s war with Iran<\/a> affecting Sweden and Europe?<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we see a direct effect in oil prices, for instance, but also in increased insecurity. And we see increased threats towards some interests in Sweden, such as embassies, but also [the] Jewish community. This is extremely worrying. At the same time, we cannot allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons, and we need to support the Iranian people so that they can, in the future, live in a democracy. So, this is a very difficult time for the world. I\u2019m very worried about the developments and what effects this could have, also, in the long run.\u201d<\/p>\n