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
Handbook for Sweden's feminist foreign policy
Margot Wallström is launching a handbook for Sweden's feminist foreign policy. Regeringskansliet/Ninni Andersson The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs is launching a handbook for Sweden's feminist foreign policy. This handbook should be a resource for international work relating to gender equality and all women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of human rights. It contains a selection of methods and experiences that can provide examples and inspiration for further work of the Swedish Foreign Service, other parts of the civil service and society as a whole. The handbook also describes the first four years of working with a feminist foreign policy. Thereby, it responds to the considerable national and international interest in this policy.
Talks between Swedish and North Korean foreign ministers concluded
Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström and North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Yong-ho. Photo: Per E Karlsson/Government Offices of Sweden On 15–17 March, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström and North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Yong-ho met in Stockholm for talks. The North Korean delegation also paid a courtesy call on Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. The talks focused primarily on the security situation on the Korean peninsula, which is high on the UN Security Council agenda. Sweden is a member of the Security Council for the 2017–2018 term.
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 2018
On Wednesday 14 February 2018, Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström presented the Statement of Foreign Policy to 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.
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National Statement by Sweden on the Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
National Statement by Sweden on the Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Wednesday, 11 January 2017, New York.
National Statement by Sweden on the Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo -
Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist and India’s Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman to sign security protection agreement
During a ceremony in Stockholm, Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist and India’s Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman will sign a security protection agreement between Sweden and India.
Minister for Defence Peter Hultqvist and India’s Minister of Defence Nirmala Sitharaman to sign security protection agreement -
Swedish Statements in the UN Security Council
Swedish Statements in the UN Security Council -
Joint Declaration on Venezuela
Joint Declaration on Venezuela -
Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström at Hanalys in Hanaholmen, Finland
(Check against delivery) Excellencies, distinguished guests,
Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström at Hanalys in Hanaholmen, Finland -
Guidelines for strategies in Swedish development cooperation and humanitarian assistance
Guidelines for strategies are intended for the Government Offices, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), Swedish missions abroad and, where applicable, also for other government agencies commissioned by the Government to implement strategies for development cooperation.
Guidelines for strategies in Swedish development cooperation and humanitarian assistance -
Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström at the installation of Anna Lindh professor Annick Wibben at the Swedish Defence University
· Speech from Margot Wallström
Stockholm, Sweden, 9 January 2019. Check against delivery.
Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström at the installation of Anna Lindh professor Annick Wibben at the Swedish Defence University -
10 points on Sweden’s membership of the UN Security Council 2017–2018
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. We are grateful for the good cooperation with partners during our tenure.
10 points on Sweden’s membership of the UN Security Council 2017–2018 -
Sweden’s centenary gift to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
As a gift from Sweden to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the Government has set up three cooperation funds to mark the countries’ 100th anniversaries in 2018. Following approval by the Riksdag, SEK 30 million has been set aside in three grants of SEK 10 million each, constituting the founding capital for three foundations with the aim of promoting broad people-to-people exchanges between Sweden and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, respectively.
Sweden’s centenary gift to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania -
Brexit and the long-term budget at the EU Summit
Discussions about Brexit and the long-term EU budget for the period 2021–2027 dominated the European Council on 13–14 December. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and other heads of state and government adopted a number of conclusions on migration, disinformation, climate change and internal market cooperation. The Council ended with a discussion of EMU cooperation.
Brexit and the long-term budget at the EU Summit
