N5 and NB8 – Nordic and Nordic-Baltic cooperation on foreign and security policy

On 12–14 August 2024, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and other Nordic foreign ministers are travelling to Nigeria and Ghana within the framework of Sweden’s Presidency of N5 – the informal foreign and security cooperation format between the Nordic countries. The ministers will discuss topics including global security, multilateral cooperation and increased trade and investment.

In 2024, Sweden is responsible for coordinating foreign and security cooperation of the Nordic countries (N5) and the Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8). In this role, Sweden has chosen to highlight three main priorities: strengthening security policy cooperation in the region, maintaining unwavering support for Ukraine’s right to freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and securing continued global support for Ukraine.

On 19–20 June, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström will host a meeting of the Nordic foreign ministers in Stockholm. The meeting will take place within the framework of Sweden’s Presidency of the N5 – Nordic cooperation on foreign and security policy.

Today, Nordic heads of government signed a joint declaration on the future of Nordic competitiveness, growth and security. The declaration was signed in connection with the Nordic summit hosted by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on 13 May in Stockholm.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström is launching a high-level group that will provide expert support to Ukraine’s Government during its EU accession process.

On 9–10 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström will host a foreign and security policy meeting in the Nordic-Baltic format (NB8) in Visby.

Opinion piece, The Hindu, 24 February 2024, by Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark, Margus Tsahkna, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Estonia, Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Finland, Bjarni Benediktsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iceland, Krišjānis Kariņš, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Latvia, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania, Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway, Tobias Billström, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden

On 21-23 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström will visit New Delhi in the company of Nordic Baltic colleagues to attend the annual Raisina Dialogue. The trip will be undertaken jointly within the framework of the Nordic Baltic cooperation, the NB8. This is the second year in a row that Minister Billström will attend the Raisina Dialogue.

On 20 February, Mr Billström will visit Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore), India. The agenda includes meetings with representatives of Karnataka State, discussions with Swedish and Indian companies on digitalisation and new technologies, addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry and a visit to the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström presented the Government’s 2024 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. The Government’s most important foreign policy priorities are support to Ukraine, Sweden’s NATO membership and deepened cooperation in the neighbourhood.

On 14 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström presented the 2024 Statement of Foreign Policy in the Riksdag. Check against delivery.

On Monday 5 February, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and Minister for EU Affairs, with responsibility for Nordic affairs, Jessika Roswall informed the diplomatic corps of the priorities for the N5 and NB8 and the Nordic Council of Ministers, all of which will be chaired by Sweden this year. Around 100 diplomatic representatives attended the briefing.

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström for the diplomatic corps at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm, Monday 5 February. Check against delivery.