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.
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News about foreign and security policy
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.
Summary of the priorities and achievements of the Swedish Chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council 2017–2019
Government Offices Sweden took over the two-year chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council at the ministerial meeting in Arkhangelsk on 19 October 2017. Since its inception, the Barents cooperation has aimed to promote peace, stability and the development of the Barents region, through cross-border collaboration and people-to-people contacts. The Swedish chairmanship programme, with the title ‘Regional sustainable development for the future’, was formed with a view to advancing cooperation and deepening collaboration in key areas of common interest.
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.
Statement of Foreign Policy 2019
On 13 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström presented the 2019 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag.
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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Dialogue between Sweden and Cambodia on human rights
The seventh dialogue between Sweden and Cambodia on human rights took place on 21–23 October in Stockholm. The talks were led by Sweden’s Ambassador at large for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law Annika Ben David. The purpose of the dialogue is to provide the opportunity for exchange of experience and to follow developments in human rights in the two countries.
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Brexit, enlargement and the long-term budget at the EU Summit
Brexit, EU enlargement and the EU’s long-term budget were among the issues that Prime Minister Stefan Löfven raised when he met his EU colleagues on 17–18 October. The heads of state and government also discussed the situation in Syria and Turkey.
· Article from Prime Minister's Office
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Barents Euro-Arctic Council Umeå Declaration, 3 October 2019, Umeå, Sweden
The Foreign Ministers and high-level representatives of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the European Union participated together with representatives of the Barents Regional Council, indigenous peoples, regional bodies, observer states and invited guests in the XVII Session of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council (BEAC) under the Chairmanship of Sweden in Umeå on 3 October 2019.
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Remarks by Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde at the EU Arctic Forum, Umeå, 3 October, 2019
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#GirlsTakeover – a global initiative to promote girls’ rights and highlight their agency
Within the context of Sweden’s feminist foreign policy, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is taking part in the global #GirlsTakeover campaign. Through this campaign – an initiative of Plan International – girls all over the world will step into a leadership role on 11 October in connection with International Day of the Girl Child.
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Sweden increases support to Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
The Government today decided on Sweden’s contribution for the next three-year replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund). The contribution will be increased to SEK 950 million annually, a total of SEK 2.85 billion for the period 2020–2022. The contribution is Sweden’s second-largest in the multilateral context, second only to support to the World Bank. Sweden is the Fund’s eighth-largest donor, and has an important role as a partner.
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Joint Press Statement on the EU Arctic Forum by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini, European Commissioner Karmenu Vella and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde
The European Union’s long standing commitment to enhance sustainable international cooperation in the Arctic
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Summary of the priorities and achievements of the Swedish Chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council 2017–2019
Sweden took over the two-year chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council at the ministerial meeting in Arkhangelsk on 19 October 2017. Since its inception, the Barents cooperation has aimed to promote peace, stability and the development of the Barents region, through cross-border collaboration and people-to-people contacts. The Swedish chairmanship programme, with the title ‘Regional sustainable development for the future’, was formed with a view to advancing cooperation and deepening collaboration in key areas of common interest.
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Address by Ms Ann Linde, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden, at the 74th Session of the General Assembly of the UN
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Joint Communique on Ministerial Meeting on Yemen Crisis at UN General Assembly
On Thursday September 26th, on the margins of the 74th United Nations General Assembly, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde co-hosted a high-level breakfast meeting together with the United Kingdom and Kuwait on the situation in Yemen. The meeting was attended by a number of countries who have been particularly engaged in supporting a political solution in Yemen within the UN Security Council. The Group agreed to continue their joint efforts for a political process in Yemen, and adopted on the following statement.
