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An aerial view of Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, showing the old town by the water
Image: imago imagesImage: imago images

Sweden

Sweden is a wealthy country in Scandanavia. It is a member of the EU and after decades of military non-alignment, is now bidding to join NATO in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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All Content on this topic

Viktor Orban, dressed in a black suit and orange tie, holds notes in his hand as he stands and addresses parliament, Budapest, Hungary, February 26, 2024

Sweden in NATO, Hungary in isolation

Hungary's delay in ratifying Sweden's NATO bid shows how much Viktor Orban has politically isolated his country.
PoliticsFebruary 27, 2024
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban gestures after addressing a parliament session, on the day lawmakers are expected to approve Sweden's accession into NATO, in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, Feb 26, 2024.

Hungarian parliament votes in favor of Sweden joining NATO

Budapest had been the last obstacle to Sweden's NATO accession since Turkey ratified it in January.
PoliticsFebruary 26, 2024
A Swedish police offcer in a gas mask looks into a car's open window

Sweden: 8 hospitalized after mysterious odor at spy agency

Swedish Security Services HQ was evacuated Friday and eight employees hospitalized after an intense odor was reported.
PoliticsFebruary 24, 2024
Saab JAS 39 Gripen jetfighters take part in the NATO exercise as part of the NATO Air Policing mission, on July 4, 2023

Hungary signs deal to buy Swedish fighter jets, says Orban

The deal for Saab JAS Gripen warplanes comes after Budapest said it would no longer block Sweden's bid to join NATO.
ConflictsFebruary 23, 2024
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban delivers his annual state of the nation speech in Budapest, Hungary, on February 17, 2024

Hungary's Orban laments 'nightmare' pardon scandal

President Katalin Novak quit last week after pardoning a man convicted of covering up a child sexual abuse case.
PoliticsFebruary 17, 2024
Still DW Beitrag MSC 2024 Pal Jonson

Swedish defense minister: Sweden's security has deteriorated

Russia has put its defense industry on a war footing and Europe must respond in kind, Pal Jonson told DW.
PoliticsFebruary 17, 202403:05 min
Oceana water part at Liseberg amusement park, Gothenburg, Sweden

Swedish water park fire still burning after 3 days

One person is still missing as a result of the fire, which began on Monday.
CatastropheFebruary 14, 2024
A firefighter sprays water to contain a blaze at the Liseberg park in Goteberg

Large fire breaks out at Sweden's biggest amusement park

A large fire broke out at Sweden's largest theme park, engulfing the brand-new water park section in flames.
CatastropheFebruary 12, 2024
DW Sendung Fokus Europa | Schweden Schule

Sweden: Too much digitization in schools?

Sweden has long been a pioneer in digitizing education. But poor performance is prompting change.
EducationFebruary 12, 202404:42 min
Russland im Krieg | Kirchen unter Druck

Focus on Europe – Spotlight on People

Russian clergy who speak out against the war in Ukraine face punishment.
SocietyFebruary 8, 202426:04 min
Gas from the Nord Sea pipelines pours into the Baltic Sea

Sweden drops Nord Stream explosions investigation

Sweden was looking into the Nord Stream 1 and 2 explosions but now says it doesn't have jurisdiction.
ConflictsFebruary 7, 2024
Swedish police near the Israeli embassy after the discovery of an explosive device

Sweden investigates 'terrorist' act near Israeli embassy

Sweden said it had stopped an attempted attack on the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm earlier this week.
TerrorismFebruary 2, 2024
An older women wearing sequins dances while spinning turntables

DJ Gloria is Sweden's oldest disc jockey

Madelein Mansson, 79, loves dancing but couldn't find any clubs for her demographic. Now she spins for people over 50.
MusicJanuary 30, 202402:47 min
An F-16 combat jet aircraft of the Turkish airforce takes off at the Air Defender Exercise 2023 in the military airport of Jagel, northern Germany:

US approves sale of F-16 warplanes to Turkey

Washington has approved a $23 billion deal to sell F-16 warplanes to Turkey, ending months of negotiations.
PoliticsJanuary 27, 2024
Fokus Europa Deutschland Migration

Focus on Europe - Spotlight on People

The mayor of Hebertshausen in Bavaria welcomes migrants and refugees with open arms.
SocietyJanuary 25, 202426:05 min
Turkish lawmakers vote on Sweden's bid to join NATO at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, January 23

Turkish lawmakers approve Swedish NATO bid after long delay

Turkish approval leaves Hungary as the last holdout to block Sweden from joining the Western military alliance.
PoliticsJanuary 23, 2024
People light candles at a memorial in Sweden

Sweden steps up the fight against organized crime

Sweden is taking a tougher stance against the escalating violence of organized crime.
SocietyJanuary 12, 202410:41 min
Fokus Europa Schweden Kriminalität

Focus on Europe - Spotlight on People

Sweden is taking a tougher stance against rampant crime by criminal gangs.
PoliticsJanuary 11, 202426:04 min
A cyclist moves through the morning traffic during a blizzard in Aalborg, on a cargo bike

Extreme cold grips Scandinavia

Northern Europe is in the grip of extreme cold, with the mercury sinking as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
Nature and EnvironmentJanuary 5, 20246 images
A car drives along a snowy road in the village of Vittangi in Kiruna municipality, north Sweden

Nordic deep freeze stops traffic, cuts power

Finland and Sweden have seen widespread power outages, and massive snowfall has trapped motorists on highways.
Nature and EnvironmentJanuary 4, 202401:07 min
A car drives on a snowy road in the village of Vittangi in northern Sweden, January 3

Extreme cold: Temperatures drop below minus 40 C in Sweden

The cold spell plunged temperatures to record lows in northern Sweden. Finland saw frigid temperatures too.
Nature and EnvironmentJanuary 3, 2024
Police stand guard outside the Svea Court of Appeals in Stockholm

Sweden upholds life sentence in Iran prison executions case

The case was brought under the principle of universal jurisdiction.
Rule of LawDecember 19, 2023
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (l) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (r) smile while seated at a table flanked by their nations' flags

Erdogan and Orban pledge closer ties in Budapest meeting

Although Turkey and Hungary are the only countries yet to ratify Sweden's NATO bid, the subject was not addressed.
PoliticsDecember 18, 2023
Two emergency workers in safety gear talk with one another as a crumpled Tesla is seen in the foreground behind the fire truck that it rearended while on autopilot

A bad day for Tesla — massive US recall and a Swedish strike

Electric vehicle maker Tesla is recalling nearly its entire US fleet after authorities flagged an autopilot software gli
Rule of LawDecember 13, 2023
Floderus (middle) attends a court session in Tehran on December 10

Iran begins trial of Swedish EU diplomat detained for spying

Johan Floderus, who is 33 years old, was taken into custody in 2022 while on vacation in Iran.
Human RightsDecember 10, 2023
Five members of the band Dad Harmony are sitting in a room and singing a cappella

Sweden's 'Dad Harmony' become pop sensation

Five fathers have become Sweden's most unlikely new pop stars after a clip of them singing in a hot tub went viral.
MusicDecember 6, 202302:37 min
DW Sendung Fokus Europa | Schweden Hej-Kampagne

A friendly winter in Sweden

The northern Swedish city of Luleå has launched a campaign to combat the dark, lonely winter.
SocietyDecember 5, 202304:10 min
A symbol photo of a Spotify listener

Spotify to cut 17% of staff in cost-cutting measure

Spotify, a digital music service, could be seeking to boost its profitability with the move.
BusinessDecember 4, 2023
Sweden's foreign minister Tobias Billström in an interview

What is the status of Sweden's NATO bid?

DW's Alexandra Nahmen spoke with Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom about his country's path to NATO membership.
PoliticsNovember 29, 202303:15 min
Tesla vehicles in a parking lot in California

Tesla sues Sweden over postal strike

Tesla has asked the courts to impose a fine of $96,000 if Sweden fails to ensure license plates for new cars.
BusinessNovember 27, 2023
Woman in headscarf sitting at a table

Saving Sweden's teens from surging gang violence

Shootings and bombings are increasing at an alarming rate, and many of the perpetrators appear to be minors.
CrimeNovember 1, 202303:40 min
A man and a woman standing in front of a large screen with a digital image of a city

Using a 'digital twin' to future-proof the city

Gothenburg's "digital twin" visualizes the impact of rising sea levels, flooding and extreme weather.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 1, 202305:33 min
The grounded ferry Marco Polo

Grounded ferry off Swedish coast remains adrift, leaking oil

More oil has leaked from a passenger ferry that ran aground off the coast of southern Sweden a week ago.
CatastropheOctober 29, 2023
A masked Belgian police officer on the streets of Brussels walks and speaks into a two-way radio

Belgium charges suspect in connection with Brussels attack

Belgian prosecutors have said a Tunisian man aided a suspect who is said to have killed 2 Swedish soccer fans.
CrimeOctober 26, 2023
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan giving a speech at the Turkish parliament

Sweden welcomes Turkey ratifying NATO membership bid

Turkey's parliament will take up Sweden's NATO bid, bringing the Nordic nation closer to joining the military alliance.
PoliticsOctober 24, 2023
DW Euromaxx (Sendungslogo Composite)

Euromaxx - Lifestyle Europe

New Grand Show in Berlin's Friedrichstadt-Palast, Photographer Iwan Baan and the best sommelier in the world.
CultureOctober 20, 202326:06 min
Algeria players celebrating a goal

Football: Algeria league suspended, no Belgium-Sweden replay

Domestic football in Algeria suspended while UEFA says no matches to be played in Israel and no Belgium-Sweden replay.
SoccerOctober 19, 2023
Finnish Border Guard patrolling the site where a gas pipeline from Finland to Estonia was damaged

Sweden reports damage to Baltic Sea cable with Estonia

Sweden said its cable with Estonia was damaged at roughly the same time as a Finnish-Estonian pipeline and cable.
ConflictsOctober 17, 2023
A blue police cordon

Belgian police shoot suspect in deadly Brussels attack

Officials in Belgium confirmed a man who carried out a "terrorist attack" in Brussels has been killed by police.
SocietyOctober 17, 2023
A man kneeling down in a field of winemaking grapes in Sweden

The wine industry's new frontier in Sweden

Scandinavia isn't known for its wine. But as climate change alters growing seasons Swedish winemaking is gaining ground.
Nature and EnvironmentOctober 9, 202304:21 min
Police stand on the site of a powerful explosion that occurred in a residential area in Storvreta outside Uppsala, Sweden

Sweden to call in military to help crack down on gangs

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has blamed "irresponsible immigration policy and a failed integration" for the violence.
CrimeSeptember 29, 2023
Thumbnail EUROMAXX 23.09.2023

The 'Pater Noster' lighthouse hotel

On Sweden's Hamneskar Island, a decommissioned lighthouse has been converted to a hotel.
TravelSeptember 28, 202304:29 min
DW Euromaxx (Sendungslogo Composite)

Euromaxx - Lifestyle Europe

Questions and answers about Oktoberfest, the Labrum London fashion label and pizza Margherita.
LifestyleSeptember 26, 202326:05 min
external

Spain play first match since Rubiales scandal

Most of the players have agreed to end their boycott of the team ahead of the game in Sweden.
SoccerSeptember 21, 202302:03 min
MADE Sendung 19.09.

Will Northvolt light up Europe’s green battery market?

Northvolt, Europe’s largest EV battery manufacturer, is planning a factory in Germany.
BusinessSeptember 20, 202305:07 min
MADE Sendung 19.09.

Saving money, going green

More e-mobility, better steel, and banning short-haul flights — new ideas to cut costs and go green
BusinessSeptember 20, 202326:06 min
DW Sendung Euromaxx | Köttbullar

Köttbullar, a Swedish national dish

IKEA isn't the only place serving these meatballs —they're many Swedes' favorite dish, too.
LifestyleSeptember 15, 202304:29 min
Swedish citizen Johan Floderus

Iran confirms it arrested Swedish citizen

EU top diplomat Josep Borrell said that EU employee Johan Floderus had been held in Iran for 500 days.
PoliticsSeptember 12, 2023
Johan Floderus, an EU official from Sweden

Swedish EU diplomat held in Iran for over 500 days — Borrell

Iran has repeatedly targeted foreigners and jailed them for espionage or other violations of national security.
ConflictsSeptember 5, 2023
A young boy showing signs of malnutrition wanders amidst ruins in Rumbek's central market, 21 January 2004.

Sweden: Oil executives on trial over Sudan war crimes

Two former executives at a Swedish oil firm are going on trial over accusations of complicity in war crimes in Sudan.
CrimeSeptember 5, 2023