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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Prime Minister Stefan Löfven to travel to Paris
On 11 November 2018, it is 100 hundred years since the ceasefire was concluded that led to the end of the First World War. This Armistice Centenary will be commemorated in Paris on 10–11 November, attended by some 80 heads of state and government and heads of international organisations.
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven to travel to Paris -
Joint statement by the five Nordic Foreign Ministers
Joint statement by the five Nordic Foreign Ministers -
Brexit and migration at the European Council
The European Council discussed Brexit, migration and internal security on 17–18 October. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and his colleagues also addressed EU relations with the Arab League and the EU’s negotiating mandate ahead of the COP24 climate conference.
Brexit and migration at the European Council -
Brexit and migration on the agenda when the European Council meets
Brexit, migration and internal security will be on the agenda when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven meets his European Council colleagues on 18 October. The EU leaders will also address external relations.
Brexit and migration on the agenda when the European Council meets -
Government approves support to Global Environment Facility
· Press release from Isabella Lövin, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Environment and Energy
The Government today decided to contribute more than SEK 2 billion to the seventh replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-7). Sweden will thereby increase its contribution to the GEF by more than 50 per cent for the period 2018–2022, compared with 2014–2018. This makes Sweden the sixth largest donor overall and the largest per capita donor. In total, replenishment pledges total SEK 34 billion (USD 4.1 billion). This decision reflects what was announced by the Government in the Budget Bill for 2018.
Government approves support to Global Environment Facility -
Strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation with Somalia 2018–2022
The objective of Sweden’s international development cooperation is to create opportunities for people who live in poverty and oppression to improve their living conditions. Development cooperation will be based on the principles of aid and development effectiveness, and the new agreements reached by the international community in 2015: the 2030 Agenda, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
Strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation with Somalia 2018–2022 -
The Swedish Institute in Alexandria is moving
Sweden has terminated the contract with Egypt on the establishment of the Swedish Institute in Alexandria. However, dialogue activities as such will continue.
The Swedish Institute in Alexandria is moving -
Security Council Briefing on Maintenance of international peace and security: non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström, Wednesday, 26 September 2018. Check against delivery.
Security Council Briefing on Maintenance of international peace and security: non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction -
Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström to take part in women foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada
On 21–22 September, Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström will take part in the Women Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Montreal, Canada. The meeting will be co-led by Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. Ms Wallström will also take part in a working breakfast with civil society representatives.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström to take part in women foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada -
Statement by Prime Minister Stefan Löfven on the situation in Syria
Statement by Prime Minister Stefan Löfven on the situation in Syria
