Changes to the Swedish Foreign Service
Published
The Government has decided to close its embassies in Bolivia, Liberia and Zimbabwe in 2026, partly as a result of increased focus on support to Ukraine.
The embassies’ closures will be carried out in tandem with the Government phasing out bilateral development assistance strategies for these three countries. The phase-outs aim to free up further resources to support Ukraine, which is the Government’s most important foreign and development assistance policy priority.
– “Support to Ukraine is an existential issue for Sweden and Europe. The Government is now further increasing its development assistance to Ukraine. By making these changes, we can increase development assistance to Ukraine to at least SEK 10 billion in 2026. This means that approximately a fifth of Sweden’s development assistance budget goes to Ukraine,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard
The reform agenda and overall Swedish interests form the basis for the decisions that have been taken.
Swedish diplomatic presence in the world is continually reviewed in relation to overall Swedish interests, requirements and budget. Diplomatic relations with these countries continue to be important, and will be managed, by example, through concurrent accreditation from other countries in their respective regions. The countries continue to be important partners in Sweden’s foreign policy as a whole.
All the affected missions abroad have been informed.
The embassies’ closures are expected be carried out during 2026.
La Paz, Bolivia
The Embassy’s main focus is to promote relations between Sweden and Bolivia through political dialogue, trade and development cooperation. The Embassy in La Paz is not a passport-issuing authority. Swedes already contact the embassies in Bogotá, Buenos Aires or Brasilia for the issuing of ordinary passports. However, the Embassy in La Paz can issue provisional passports.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs (UD) estimates that around 60 Swedes live in the country. Today, around 16 people work at the Embassy: four posted staff, two from UD and two from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) plus 12 local staff.
Monrovia, Liberia
The Embassy’s main focus is development assistance. The Embassy does not issue ordinary passports and has previously been exempted from its migration assignment.
UD estimates that around 30 Swedes live in the country. The Embassy employs 23 people: eight posted staff, three from UD and five from Sida, plus15 local staff.
Harare, Zimbabwe
The Embassy’s main focus is development assistance. In dialogue with the Swedish Migration Agency, UD will review where in the region migration cases from Zimbabwe will be managed.
UD estimates that around 30 Swedes live in the country. Today, some 22 people work in the Embassy: eight posted staff, three from UD and five from Sida, plus 14 local staff.
