Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Gothenburg, Sweden on 17 May for the third leg of his ongoing five-nation European tour, at the invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The two-day visit (17–18 May) is aimed at deepening India-Sweden ties across trade, green technologies, artificial intelligence, and defence manufacturing.

Key Agenda Items

Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Kristersson are scheduled to hold bilateral talks covering the full spectrum of India-Sweden relations. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the leaders will 'explore new avenues of cooperation to enhance bilateral trade, which has reached USD 7.75 billion (2025), and Swedish FDI into India which has reached USD 2.825 billion (2000–2025).'

Discussions are expected to span green transition, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, startups, resilient supply chains, defence manufacturing, space cooperation, climate action, and people-to-people ties. Sweden is widely regarded as one of Europe's most innovation-driven economies, making it a natural partner for India's push into future-oriented sectors.

European Round Table for Industry

A centrepiece of the visit will be Modi and Kristersson's joint participation in the European Round Table for Industry, a prominent pan-European platform of senior business leaders. The two leaders will address the gathering alongside Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission — a trilateral appearance that underscores the strategic weight India is attaching to its EU engagement.

Historical Context

This is Prime Minister Modi's second visit to Sweden. His first was in 2018 for the inaugural India-Nordic Summit, according to the MEA. The return visit signals a deliberate effort to build on that foundation as both countries look to move beyond traditional trade into deeper strategic cooperation.

Coming After the Netherlands Leg

The Sweden stop follows Modi's concluded two-day official visit to the Netherlands, his second visit to that country as well. On 16 May, he was received by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague. Bilateral and delegation-level talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten followed, culminating in a dinner meeting. Notably, India and the Netherlands agreed to elevate their bilateral relationship to the level of a 'Strategic Partnership' — a formal upgrade that reflects growing strategic convergence. The two sides also acknowledged collaboration during India's G20 Presidency in 2023 and the AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi in February 2026.

With Sweden and the Netherlands now covered, attention will turn to the remaining two stops on Modi's five-nation tour as India continues its diplomatic push across Europe.