U.S. and Sweden Sign Pax Silica Technology Partnership

Sweden becomes 12th member of global initiative to secure tech supply chains

Mar. 18, 2026 at 1:42am

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Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg traveled to Houston, Texas, on March 17, 2026, with U.S. Ambassador to Sweden Christine Toretti to witness Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard sign the Pax Silica Declaration on behalf of Sweden. This marks Sweden's entry into the Pax Silica initiative, a global partnership of nations seeking to build trusted technology supply chains and address AI-related opportunities and vulnerabilities.

Why it matters

The Pax Silica initiative aims to foster cooperation between major economies to maintain competitiveness and prosperity in the face of growing geopolitical tensions and technological challenges. Sweden's participation as the first EU member state signals Europe's commitment to the partnership and could pave the way for further European involvement.

The details

After the signing ceremony, which was observed by Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Under Secretary Helberg traveled to Dallas to meet with Ericsson executives and tour the company's 5G manufacturing facility in the United States.

  • On March 17, 2026, Under Secretary Helberg traveled to Houston, Texas.
  • On March 17, 2026, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard signed the Pax Silica Declaration.

The players

Jacob Helberg

The Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.

Christine Toretti

The U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden.

Maria Malmer Stenergard

The Foreign Minister of Sweden.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

The Crown Princess of Sweden, who observed the signing ceremony.

Börje Ekholm

The President and CEO of the Ericsson Group.

Yossi Cohen

The President and CEO of Ericsson Americas.

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What’s next

After the signing ceremony, Under Secretary Helberg will travel to Dallas to meet with Ericsson executives and tour the company's 5G manufacturing facility in the United States.

The takeaway

Sweden's participation in the Pax Silica initiative signals Europe's commitment to building a global network of trusted technology partners, which could have far-reaching implications for the future of international cooperation on critical emerging technologies.