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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Stockholm Agreement gives hope of peaceful solution in Yemen
During eight intensive days, the eyes of the world were trained on Rimbo, where UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths led consultations with the parties to the conflict in Yemen. The delegations from the two parties, the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah, agreed on Thursday 13 December in the ‘Stockholm Agreement’ to a ceasefire in the port city of Hodeidah. The parties have agreed to withdraw their troops from Hodeidah and for the port to be managed and monitored with UN support, which will enable the import of vital provisions to the country. The Stockholm Agreement also includes a prisoner exchange and steps towards a ceasefire in the city of Taiz.
Stockholm Agreement gives hope of peaceful solution in Yemen -
Statement by Margot Wallström at Yemen consultations
Rimbo, Sweden. 13 December 2018. Check against delivery.
Statement by Margot Wallström at Yemen consultations -
Strategic Export Controls in 2017 – Military Equipment and Dual-Use Items
In this Communication, the Swedish Government provides an account of Sweden’s export control policy with respect to military equipment and dual-use items in 2017. The Communication also contains a report detailing exports of military equipment during the year. In addition, it describes the cooperation in the EU and other international forums on matters relating to strategic export controls on both military equipment and dual-use items.
Strategic Export Controls in 2017 – Military Equipment and Dual-Use Items -
Brexit and EU budget on the agenda when EU leaders meet
Brexit, the EU budget for 2021–2027 (Multiannual Financial Framework), foreign policy and migration are some of the issues to be addressed when Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and the other EU leaders meet in Brussels on 13–14 December.
Brexit and EU budget on the agenda when EU leaders meet -
Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström at the IAEA Ministerial Conference
Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström at the at the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology: Addressing Current and Emerging Development Challenges, 28 November 2018 in Vienna. Check against delivery.
Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström at the IAEA Ministerial Conference -
Statement by the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Margot Wallström, at the Geneva Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan 28 November 2018
Statement by the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Margot Wallström, at the Geneva Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan 28 November 2018 -
EU leaders endorsed Brexit agreement
On the Sunday of November 25, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and the other members of the European Council endorsed the Brexit agreement negotiated by the EU and the United Kingdom.
EU leaders endorsed Brexit agreement -
Prime Minister to attend special meeting on Brexit
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven will attend a special meeting of the European Council on Sunday, November 25. EU leaders will meet to take a position on the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
Prime Minister to attend special meeting on Brexit -
Strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation for global gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights 2018-2022
Strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation for global gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights 2018-2022 -
Strategy for Sweden’s development cooperation with Zambia 2018–2022
The objective of Sweden’s international development cooperation is to create opportunities for people living in poverty and under oppression to improve their living conditions. Development cooperation will be based on the principles of aid and development effectiveness, and the new international 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 Zambia 2018–2022
