Foreign and security policy
Foreign policy is about Sweden’s relations with and policies towards other countries. Preventing risks and threats is an important part of security policy, which in turn is part of foreign policy. Swedish policy is pursued via direct relations with other countries and also through bodies such as the EU and the UN.
Responsible for foreign and security policy
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News about foreign and security policy
Government communication on the feminist foreign policy
Photo: Anders Löwdin/The Riksdag Five years of Sweden’s feminist foreign policy show that it generates results. This is outlined in the Government communication on the policy which was presented by the Government to the Riksdag in September 2019. The feminist foreign policy has, among other things, contributed to support for female members of parliament and entrepreneurs, fewer cases of maternal mortality and unplanned pregnancies, and more resources for gender equality and women’s and girl’s rights. Sweden has also contributed toward mobilising and financing for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Sweden to chair the IAEA Board of Governors for 2019–2020
The assignment of Chair is carried out by Sweden’s Permanent Representative to the IAEA, Ambassador Mikaela Kumlin Granit. Photo: Dean Calma / IAEA. For the first time, Sweden now serves as Chair of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governors.
- This is a great honour and responsibility, and a continuation of Sweden’s long history of political and technical support for the IAEA. The work of the Agency is essential in the promotion of nuclear non-proliferation, peaceful uses of nuclear technology and our shared responsibility for peace and security, Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde said in her national statement at the IAEA General Conference, which took place in Vienna last week.
Government communication on the feminist foreign policy
Five years of Sweden’s feminist foreign policy show that it generates results. This is outlined in the Government communication on the policy which was presented by the Government to the Riksdag in September 2019. The feminist foreign policy has, among other things, contributed to support for female members of parliament and entrepreneurs, fewer cases of maternal mortality and unplanned pregnancies, and more resources for gender equality and women’s and girl’s rights. Sweden has also contributed toward mobilising and financing for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Sweden and the UN
The United Nations is a central arena for Sweden’s action to address global challenges. Through the UN, Sweden contributes to conflict prevention, peace efforts, rebuilding of conflict-affected states, and disarmament and non-proliferation. The UN is also an important channel for Sweden’s humanitarian work and our efforts to fight poverty, promote sustainable development and combat climate change. Other priorities for Sweden in the UN include strengthening international law and promoting human rights and gender equality issues. The three pillars of the UN – peace and security, development and human rights – are inextricably linked and mutually reinforcing. It is impossible to achieve success in one of these areas without also strengthening the others.
Feminist foreign policy
Equality between women and men is a fundamental aim of Swedish foreign policy. Ensuring that women and girls can enjoy their fundamental human rights is both an obligation within the framework of our international commitments, and a prerequisite for reaching Sweden’s broader foreign policy goals on peace, and security and sustainable development.
Sweden in the UN Security Council
After being elected by a wide margin to the United Nations Security Council, Sweden was a non-permanent member of the Council for the 2017–2018 term. As a principled member of the United Nations Security Council, Sweden took its cue from the foundation stones of international law, human rights, gender equality and a humanitarian perspective. The Swedish working method was characterised by listening, creativity, active diplomacy and an ambition to achieve results.
Content about foreign and security policy
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Joint Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Estonia, Finland and Sweden
Estonia, Finland and Sweden have agreed that in case of a new significant information on the catastrophe of the M/S Estonia that has not been reported before, Estonia, Finland and Sweden will jointly assess the new information. A Discovery Network documentary about the M/S Estonia disaster in 1994 includes new underwater video images from the wreck site showing damage on the starboard side of the wreck. Estonia, Finland and Sweden have agreed that verification of the new information presented in the documentary will be made in accordance and full respect of the Agreement between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden regarding the M/S Estonia signed in 1995. The fundamental idea with this agreement is to protect the M/S Estonia, as a final place of rest for victims of the disaster, from any disturbing activities. Our countries will cooperate closely in this matter and Estonia as Flag State will lead this process. Estonia, Finland and Sweden emphasize that we rely on final conclusions of JAIC (Joint Accident Investigation Commission) Final Report of 1997.
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Anna Ekström opens exhibitions on Sweden and the Holocaust
“By learning about our history we can strengthen and defend our open and democratic Swedish society today and in the future”, says Minister for Education Anna Ekström.
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Preparations connected to the establishment of a Swedish Holocaust museum
The Living History Forum will receive SEK 10 million to start preparations connected to the establishment of a Swedish museum to preserve and perpetuate the memory of the Holocaust. One starting point is documenting the stories of Swedish Holocaust survivors.
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Stefan Löfven on racism during Statement of Government Policy
“Despite the fact that racism and Nazism should have been relegated to the scrapheap of history long, long ago, they are flourishing today. All members of society must be involved in stopping racism in all its forms and expressions", said Prime Minister Stefan Löfven in the Statement of Government Policy.
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Swedish version of Dimensions in Testimony recorded
The 3 September Anna Ekström had a digital meeting with Elisabeth Citrom, Holocaust survivor. Mrs Citrom’s eyewitness testimony from the Holocaust is currently being documented for the Swedish version of Dimensions in Testimony.
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Joint Statement by the Nordic Foreign Ministers (N5) from Bornholm
On 17 September, the Foreign Ministers of Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark met on the Danish island of Bornholm, in the Baltic Sea. The ministers’ discussions focused on international security and foreign policy issues.
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Joint Communiqué on the Conflict in Yemen
On September 17, Foreign Minister Ann Linde co-hosted, together with the Foreign Ministers of Germany, Kuwait and the UK, a virtual high-level meeting on the situation in Yemen, in connection to the United Nations’ 75th General Assembly. The meeting was attended by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and a Group of countries particularly engaged in supporting UN efforts in Yemen. The Group comprises the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States), Sweden, Germany, Kuwait and the European Union. The meeting followed-up the Group’s high-level meeting in New York last year, which was also co-hosted by Sweden.
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Joint statement from Nordic-Baltic (NB8) Foreign Ministers’ annual meeting
08.-09.09.2020 Tallinn, Estonia. Statement by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.
