Political Relations
Political relations between Türkiye and Sweden date back to the beginning
of the 17thcentury. The King of Sweden, Karl XII, took refuge in
the Ottoman Empire after his defeat against Russia in 1709. He ruled his
country for five years from the Ottoman territory.
The Trade Agreement and the Alliance for Peace, Unity and Friendship were
signed in 1737 and in 1739 respectively, between the Ottoman Empire and the
Kingdom of Sweden.
The two countries signed a Friendship Agreement in 1924.
Bilateral relations were developed with the signing of the “Declaration of
Strategic Partnership” in 2013. Türkiye and Sweden became allies after
Sweden’s NATO membership in March 2024.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Foreign Minister Tobias
Billström visited Türkiye on 8 November 2022 and 22 December 2022,
respectively.
Economic Relations
|
Years
|
Export
|
Import
|
Balance
|
Volume
|
|
2019
|
1.432
|
1.578
|
-146
|
3.010
|
|
2020
|
1.330
|
1.763
|
-433
|
3.093
|
|
2021
|
1.689
|
1.984
|
-295
|
3.673
|
|
2022
|
1.701
|
2.198
|
-497
|
3.899
|
|
2023
|
1.602
|
2.508
|
-906
|
4.110
|
Source : Turkish Statistical Institute (million Dolar)
Main export items: Ready-made garment and textiles, tv
receivers, refrigerators and freezers, automobiles, electric machinery and
household appliances, automotive parts and accessories, trucks, cables,
non-electric machinery, iron or steel goods, aluminium goods, home
textiles, plastic goods, fresh fruits and nuts, processed fruits and
vegetables
Main import items: Electric machinery and devices, iron
ore, mineral fuels, paper and cardboard goods, iron and steel,
pharmaceuticals, plastics and plastic goods, land vehicles, optic devices,
measurement-control-adjustment devices.
Direct investments from Sweden to Türkiye during 2002-2023 amounted to 443
million Dollars. Turkish direct investments in Sweden in the same period
were 243 million Dollars.
Türkiye-Sweden Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) was established in
2014 and held its first meeting on 5 May 2021.
Nearly 365 thousand Swedish tourists visited Türkiye in 2023.
Cultural, Educational and Consular Relations
Within the framework of the Erasmus+ student exchange program, 1.870
Turkish students went to Sweden and 342 Swedish students came to Türkiye in
the period of 2014- 2023.
The population of the Turkish community in Sweden is approximately 150
thousand.