Foreign relations of Sweden

Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy datesTemplate:Sidebar with collapsible lists The foreign policy of Sweden was formerly based on the premise that national security is best served by staying free of alliances in peacetime in order to remain a neutral country in the event of war, with this policy lasting from 1814 in the context of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars until the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine. In 2002, Sweden revised its security doctrine. The security doctrine at that point still stated that "Sweden pursues a policy of non-participation in military alliances," but permitted cooperation in response to threats against peace and security. The government also seeks to maintain Sweden's high standard of living. These two objectives required heavy expenditures for social welfare, defence spending at rates considered low by Western European standards (around 1.2% of GNP prior to 2022), and close attention to foreign trade opportunities and world economic cooperation. In 2024, Sweden formally became part of a military alliance for the first time since the end of the War of the Sixth Coalition by joining NATO.

Foreign policy

The foreign policy of Sweden encompasses a range of themes over the centuries. Some of the main issues include:

• Sweden has historically pursued a policy of neutrality, aiming to avoid involvement in conflicts between major powers. This neutrality allowed Sweden to navigate the tumultuous European political landscape and maintain its sovereignty. It dropped the neutrality policy in 2022–2024 in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and joined NATO on 7 March 2024.
• Sweden has sought to maintain a balance of power in Northern Europe, acting as a counterweight to dominant regional powers. This approach aimed to prevent any single power from gaining excessive influence and threatening Swedish interests.
• Sweden's historical dominance in the Baltic Sea region played a crucial role in shaping its diplomatic history. Through territorial expansion, Sweden established control over strategic territories, such as present-day Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and parts of Russia, impacting its relations with neighboring states.
• During the 17th and 18th centuries, Sweden emerged as a major European power, participating in conflicts such as the Thirty Years' War and the Great Northern War. Its diplomatic efforts were often influenced by power struggles with other European great powers, such as Russia and Poland.
• Sweden has actively engaged in peace mediation efforts, seeking to resolve conflicts and broker peace agreements. Notable examples include the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, which ended the Thirty Years' War, and various mediation efforts during the 20th century.
• Sweden has a longstanding tradition of promoting international cooperation, human rights, and humanitarian initiatives. It has been involved in the establishment of international organizations such as the League of Nations and the United Nations, and has championed causes such as humanitarian aid and disarmament.
• Sweden has pursued close ties and cooperation with its neighboring Nordic countries, particularly Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway. This commitment to Scandinavian unity has been reflected in diplomatic initiatives, trade agreements, and cultural exchanges.
• Sweden's relationship with the European Union (EU) has been a significant theme in its recent diplomatic history. While Sweden joined the EU in 1995, it has maintained a somewhat reserved approach, often balancing its national interests with EU membership.
• Sweden has been an advocate for global development and has provided substantial aid to developing countries. It has sought to address global inequalities and promote sustainable development through its aid programs, often challenging neocolonial practices.
• In the 21st century, Sweden has gained attention for its feminist foreign policy approach, which aims to integrate gender equality into its diplomatic efforts. Sweden has been a leading advocate for women's rights globally, emphasizing the inclusion and empowerment of women in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and development processes.

United Nations

Sweden has been a member of the United Nations since November 19, 1946, and participates actively in the activities of the organization, including as an elected member of the Security Council (1957–1958, 1975–1976, 1997–1998 and 2017–2018), providing Dag Hammarskjöld as the second elected Secretary-General of the UN, etc. The strong interest of the Swedish Government and people in international cooperation and peacemaking has been supplemented in the early 1980s by renewed attention to Nordic and European security questions.

Sweden decided not to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

European Union

File:EU15-1995 European Union map enlargement.svg

  EU members in 1995

  Sweden, Austria and Finland

After the then Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson had submitted Sweden's application in July 1991 the negotiations began in February 1993. Finally, on January 1, 1995, Sweden became a member of the European Union. While some argued that it went against Sweden's historic policy of neutrality, where Sweden had not joined during the Cold War because it was seen as incompatible with neutrality, others viewed the move as a natural extension of the economic cooperation that had been going on since 1972 with the EU. Sweden addressed this controversy by reserving the right not to participate in any future EU defence alliance. In membership negotiations in 1993–1994, Sweden also had reserved the right to make the final decision on whether to join the third stage of the EMU "in light of continued developments." In a nationwide referendum in November 1994, 52.3 percent of participants voted in favour of EU membership. Voter turnout was high, 83.3 percent of the eligible voters voted. The main Swedish concerns included winning popular support for EU cooperation, EU enlargement, and strengthening the EU in areas such as economic growth, job promotion, and environmental issues.

In polls taken a few years after the referendum, many Swedes indicated that they were unhappy with Sweden's membership in the EU. However, after Sweden successfully hosted its first presidency of the EU in the first half of 2001, most Swedes today have a more positive attitude towards the EU. The government, with the support of the Center Party, decided in spring 1997 to remain outside of the EMU, at least until 2002. A referendum was held on September 14, 2003. The results were 55.9% for no, 42.0% yes and 2.1% giving no answer ("blank vote").

Nordic Council

Swedish foreign policy has been the result of a wide consensus. Sweden cooperates closely with its Nordic neighbors, formally in economic and social matters through the Nordic Council of Ministers and informally in political matters through direct consultation.

Nonalignment

File:Swedish PM Stefan Löfven meeting Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei 01.jpg

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven with Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, February 11, 2017

Swedish neutrality and nonalignment policy in peacetime may partly explain how the country could stay out of wars since 1814. Swedish governments have not defined nonalignment as precluding outspoken positions in international affairs. Government leaders have favored national liberation movements that enjoy broad support among developing world countries, with notable attention to Africa. During the Cold War, Sweden was suspicious of the superpowers, which it saw as making decisions affecting small countries without always consulting those countries. With the end of the Cold War, that suspicion has lessened somewhat, although Sweden still chooses to remain nonaligned. Sweden has devoted particular attention to issues of disarmament, arms control, and nuclear nonproliferation and has contributed importantly to UN and other international peacekeeping efforts, including the NATO-led peacekeeping forces in the Balkans. It sat as an observer in the Western European Union from 1995 to 2011, but it is not an active member of NATO's Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.

Sweden's engagement with NATO was especially strengthened during the term of Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Sweden's nonalignment policy has led it to serve as the protecting power for a number of nations who don't have formal diplomatic relations with each other for various reasons. It currently represents the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations in North Korea for consular matters. On several occasions when the United Kingdom broke off relations with Iran (including the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the Salman Rushdie affair, and the 2011 storming of the British embassy in Tehran), Sweden served as the protecting power for the UK.

In May 2022, Sweden formally applied to join the NATO alliance. The public opinion in the Nordic region had changed in favour of joining NATO since Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24 of the same year.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in March 2022 that her government would have to respond if Sweden became a NATO member. However, in June 2022 President Vladimir Putin contradicted the statement, claiming that Sweden and Finland can "join whatever they want" on the condition that there will be no NATO military deployment in either country.

In March 2024, Sweden officially ended this period of nonalignment when it joined NATO.

Military

Sweden has employed its military on numerous occasions since the end of the Cold War, from Bosnia and Congo to Afghanistan and Libya. According to one study, "this military activism is driven both by the Swedish internationalist tradition of "doing good" in the world, but also for instrumental purposes. These include a desire for political influence in international institutions, an interest in collective milieu shaping, and a concern to improve the interoperability and effectiveness of the Swedish military."

Participation in international organizations

• AfDB
• Amnesty International
• AsDB
• Australia Group
• BIS
• CBSS
• CERN
• Council of Europe
• EAPC
• EBRD
• ECE
• EIB
• ESA
• EU
• FAO
• G-9
• G-10
• IADB
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICC
• ICCt
• ICRM
• IDA
• IEA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• IHO
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Inmarsat
• Intelsat
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• ISO
• ITU
• ITUC
• MINURSO
• NAC
• NATO
• NEA
• NIB
• Nordic Council
• NSG
• OECD
• OPCW
• OSCE
• PCA
• PFP
• Transport Community
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNEP
• UNESCO
• UNHCR
• UNHRC
• UNIDO
• UNIKOM
• UNITAR
• UNMEE
• UNMIBH
• UNMIK
• UNMOGIP
• UNMOP
• UNOMIG
• UNTAET
• UNTSO
• UPU
• WCO
• WEU (observer)
• WFP
• WFTU
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTrO
• Zangger Committee

Multilateral

Organization	Formal relations began	Notes
Template:Country data European Union		See 1995 enlargement of the European Union Sweden joined the European Union as a full member on 1 January 1995.
Template:Country data NATO		See Sweden–NATO relations Sweden joined NATO as a full member on 7 March 2024.

Diplomatic relations

List of countries which Sweden maintains diplomatic relations with:

File:Diplomatic relations of Sweden.svg
#	Country	Date
1	Template:Country data Denmark	Template:Dts
2	Template:Country data France	Template:Dts
3	Template:Country data Spain	Template:Dts
4	Template:Country data Netherlands	Template:Dts
5	Template:Country data Portugal	Template:Dts
6	Template:Country data United Kingdom	Template:Dts
7	Template:Country data Russia	Template:Dts
8	Template:Country data United States	Template:Dts
9	Template:Country data Brazil	Template:Dts
10	Template:Country data Greece	Template:Dts
11	Template:Country data Belgium	Template:Dts
12	Template:Country data Venezuela	Template:Dts
13	Template:Country data Argentina	Template:DTS
14	Template:Country data Italy	Template:Dts
15	Template:Country data Japan	Template:Dts
16	Template:Country data Thailand	Template:Dts
17	Template:Country data Colombia	Template:Dts
18	Template:Country data El Salvador	Template:Dts
19	Template:Country data Mexico	Template:Dts
20	Template:Country data Chile	Template:Dts
21	Template:Country data Iran	Template:Dts
22	Template:Country data Cuba	Template:Dts
23	Template:Country data Norway	Template:Dts
24	Template:Country data Uruguay	Template:Dts
25	Template:Country data Bulgaria	Template:Dts
26	Template:Country data Switzerland	Template:Dts
27	Template:Country data Romania	Template:Dts
28	Template:Country data Serbia	Template:Dts
29	Template:Country data Finland	Template:Dts
30	Template:Country data Poland	Template:Dts
31	Template:Country data Austria	Template:Dts
32	Template:Country data Hungary	Template:Dts
33	Template:Country data Czech Republic	Template:Dts
34	Template:Country data Egypt	Template:Dts
35	Template:Country data Luxembourg	Template:Dts
36	Template:Country data Paraguay	Template:Dts
37	Template:Country data Turkey	Template:Dts
38	Template:Country data Guatemala	Template:Dts
39	Template:Country data Peru	Template:Dts
40	Template:Country data Ecuador	Template:Dts
41	Template:Country data Bolivia	Template:Dts
42	Template:Country data Iraq	Template:Dts
43	Template:Country data South Africa	Template:Dts
44	Template:Country data Honduras	Template:Dts
45	Template:Country data Nicaragua	Template:Dts
46	Template:Country data Panama	Template:Dts
47	Template:Country data Costa Rica	Template:Dts
48	Template:Country data Iceland	Template:Dts
49	Template:Country data Afghanistan	Template:Dts
50	Template:Country data Haiti	Template:Dts
51	Template:Country data Dominican Republic	Template:Dts
52	Template:Country data Canada	Template:Dts
53	Template:Country data Ethiopia	Template:Dts
54	Template:Country data Lebanon	Template:Dts
55	Template:Country data Ireland	Template:Dts
56	Template:Country data Philippines	Template:Dts
57	Template:Country data Syria	Template:Dts
58	Template:Country data Australia	Template:Dts
59	Template:Country data India	Template:Dts
60	Template:Country data New Zealand	Template:Dts
61	Template:Country data Pakistan	Template:Dts
62	Template:Country data Sri Lanka	Template:Dts
63	Template:Country data China	Template:Dts
64	Template:Country data Israel	Template:Dts
65	Template:Country data Indonesia	Template:Dts
66	Template:Country data Germany	Template:Dts
67	Template:Country data Myanmar	Template:Date table sorting
68	Template:Country data Saudi Arabia	Template:Dts
69	Template:Country data Sudan	Template:Dts
70	Template:Country data Jordan	Template:Dts
71	Template:Country data Liberia	Template:Dts
72	Template:Country data Malaysia	Template:Dts
73	Template:Country data Morocco	Template:Dts
74	Template:Country data Tunisia	Template:Dts
75	Template:Country data South Korea	Template:Dts
76	Template:Country data Nepal	Template:Dts
77	Template:Country data Somalia	Template:Dts
78	Template:Country data Libya	Template:Dts
79	Template:Country data Cyprus	Template:Dts
80	Template:Country data Cambodia	Template:Date table sorting
81	Template:Country data Senegal	Template:Dts
82	Template:Country data Madagascar	Template:Dts
83	Template:Country data Nigeria	Template:Dts
84	Template:Country data Benin	Template:Dts
85	Template:Country data Sierra Leone	Template:Dts
86	Template:Country data Ghana	Template:Dts
87	Template:Country data Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
88	Template:Country data Democratic Republic of the Congo	Template:Dts
89	Template:Country data Guinea	Template:Dts
90	Template:Country data Algeria	Template:Dts
91	Template:Country data Ivory Coast	Template:Dts
92	Template:Country data Kenya	Template:Dts
93	Template:Country data Uganda	Template:Dts
94	Template:Country data Tanzania	Template:Dts
95	Template:Country data Mongolia	Template:Dts
96	Template:Country data Laos	Template:Dts
97	Template:Country data Zambia	Template:Dts
98	Template:Country data Kuwait	Template:Dts
99	Template:Country data Burkina Faso	Template:Dts
100	Template:Country data Rwanda	Template:Dts
101	Template:Country data Mali	Template:Dts
102	Template:Country data Niger	Template:Dts
103	Template:Country data Gabon	Template:Dts
104	Template:Country data Cameroon	Template:Dts
105	Template:Country data Burundi	Template:Dts
106	Template:Country data Singapore	Template:Dts
107	Template:Country data Malawi	Template:Dts
108	Template:Country data Trinidad and Tobago	Template:Dts
109	Template:Country data Lesotho	Template:Dts
110	Template:Country data Gambia	Template:Dts
111	Template:Country data Vietnam	Template:Dts
112	Template:Country data Albania	Template:Dts
113	Template:Country data Malta	Template:Dts
114	Template:Country data Botswana	Template:Dts
115	Template:Country data Equatorial Guinea	Template:Dts
116	Template:Country data Yemen	Template:Dts
117	Template:Country data Mauritania	Template:Dts
118	Template:Country data Bangladesh	Template:Dts
119	Template:Country data United Arab Emirates	Template:Dts
120	Template:Country data Qatar	Template:Dts
121	Template:Country data North Korea	Template:Dts
122	Template:Country data Mauritius	Template:Dts
123	Template:Country data Eswatini	Template:Dts
124	Template:Country data Tonga	Template:Dts
125	Template:Country data Jamaica	Template:Dts
126	Template:Country data Bahrain	Template:Dts
127	Template:Country data Oman	Template:Dts
128	Template:Country data Grenada	Template:Dts
129	Template:Country data Guinea-Bissau	Template:Dts
130	Template:Country data Guyana	Template:Dts
131	Template:Country data Mozambique	Template:Dts
132	Template:Country data Barbados	Template:Dts
133	Template:Country data Angola	Template:Dts
134	Template:Country data Papua New Guinea	Template:Dts
135	Template:Country data Cape Verde	Template:Dts
136	Template:Country data Comoros	Template:Dts
137	Template:Country data Samoa	Template:Dts
138	Template:Country data São Tomé and Príncipe	Template:Dts
139	Template:Country data Suriname	Template:Dts
140	Template:Country data Togo	Template:Dts
141	Template:Country data Bahamas	Template:Dts
142	Template:Country data Maldives	Template:Dts
143	Template:Country data Fiji	Template:Dts
144	Template:Country data Seychelles	Template:Dts
145	Template:Country data Solomon Islands	Template:Dts
146	Template:Country data Djibouti	Template:Dts
147	Template:Country data Zimbabwe	Template:Dts
148	Template:Country data Vanuatu	Template:Dts
149	Template:Country data Saint Lucia	Template:Dts
150	Template:Country data Antigua and Barbuda	Template:Dts
—	Template:Country data Holy See	Template:Dts
151	Template:Country data Belize	Template:Dts
152	Template:Country data Central African Republic	Template:Dts
153	Template:Country data Dominica	Template:Dts
154	Template:Country data Brunei	Template:Dts
155	Template:Country data Bhutan	Template:Dts
156	Template:Country data San Marino	Template:Dts
157	Template:Country data Namibia	Template:Dts
158	Template:Country data Estonia	Template:Dts
159	Template:Country data Latvia	Template:Dts
160	Template:Country data Lithuania	Template:Dts
161	Template:Country data Liechtenstein	Template:Dts
162	Template:Country data Ukraine	Template:Dts
163	Template:Country data Belarus	Template:Dts
164	Template:Country data Croatia	Template:Dts
165	Template:Country data Slovenia	Template:Dts
166	Template:Country data Marshall Islands	Template:Dts
167	Template:Country data Kyrgyzstan	Template:Dts
168	Template:Country data Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	Template:Dts
169	Template:Country data Saint Kitts and Nevis	Template:Dts
170	Template:Country data Kazakhstan	Template:Dts
171	Template:Country data Uzbekistan	Template:Dts
172	Template:Country data Turkmenistan	Template:Dts
173	Template:Country data Azerbaijan	Template:Dts
174	Template:Country data Moldova	Template:Dts
175	Template:Country data Armenia	Template:Dts
176	Template:Country data Federated States of Micronesia	Template:Dts
177	Template:Country data Georgia	Template:Dts
178	Template:Country data Tajikistan	Template:Dts
179	Template:Country data Bosnia and Herzegovina	Template:Dts
180	Template:Country data Slovakia	Template:Dts
181	Template:Country data Eritrea	Template:Dts
182	Template:Country data North Macedonia	Template:Dts
183	Template:Country data Andorra	Template:Dts
184	Template:Country data Chad	Template:Dts
185	Template:Country data Palau	Template:Dts
186	Template:Country data Timor-Leste	Template:Dts
187	Template:Country data Montenegro	Template:Dts
—	Template:Country data Kosovo	Template:Dts
188	Template:Country data Monaco	Template:Dts
189	Template:Country data South Sudan	Template:Dts
190	Template:Country data Tuvalu	Template:Dts
191	Template:Country data Kiribati	Template:Dts
192	Template:Country data Nauru	Template:Dts
—	Template:Country data State of Palestine	Template:Dts

Africa

Region	Formal relations began	Notes
Template:Country data Egypt	25 November 1922	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 November 1922 when Harald Bildt took up the post of first Swedish Minister to Egypt. Egypt has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Cairo.
Template:Country data Mozambique	25 June 1975	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 25 June 1975. Mozambique has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Maputo.
Template:Country data Nigeria	3 October 1961	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 October 1961. Nigeria has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Abuja.
Template:Country data South Africa		See South Africa-Sweden relations South Africa has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Pretoria.
Template:Country data Sudan	27 October 1957	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 27 October 1957 when has been accredited Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Sweden to Sudan (Resident in Addis Ababa) Dr. Bjorn Axel Eyvind Bratt. Sudan has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Khartoum.
Template:Country data Tanzania	29 May 1964	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 May 1964 when Otto Gustaf Rathsman presented his credentials as Sweden's Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar to President Nyerere. Sweden has an embassy in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania has an embassy in Stockholm.
Template:Country data Tunisia		See Sweden–Tunisia relations Sweden has an embassy in Tunis. Tunisia has an embassy in Stockholm.
Template:Country data Zimbabwe	30 April 1980	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 30 April 1980 when first Ambassador of Mozambique to Zimbabwe presented his credentials.

Americas

Region	Formal relations began	Notes
Template:Country data Argentina		See Argentina–Sweden relations Argentina has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Buenos Aires.
Template:Country data Belize	17 November 1982	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 17 November 1982. Belize has an honorary consulate in Stockholm. Sweden is accredited to Belize from its embassy in Guatemala City and maintains an honorary consulate in Belmopan.
Template:Country data Bolivia	2 February 1932	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 February 1932. Bolivia has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in La Paz.
Template:Country data Brazil		See Brazil–Sweden relations Brazil has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Brasília.
Template:Country data Canada		See Canada–Sweden relations Relations with Canada are close, positive and constructive. Both countries have strong commitments to peacekeeping, UN reform, development assistance, environmental protection, sustainable development, and the promotion and protection of human rights. In addition, there are more than 300,000 Canadians of Swedish descent. Canada has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Ottawa. Both countries are members of NATO.
Template:Country data Chile	1827	See Chile–Sweden relations Chile has an embassy in Stockholm and a consulate in Gothenburg. Sweden has an embassy in Santiago.
Template:Country data Colombia	11 December 1874	Colombia has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Bogotá. Sweden is the 6th largest trade partner of Colombia in the European Union.
Template:Country data Guyana	16 June 1975	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 16 June 1975. Guyana has an honorary consulate in Stockholm. Sweden has an ambassador accredited to Guyana based in Stockholm.
Template:Country data Mexico	1850	See Mexico–Sweden relations. Mexico has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Mexico City.
Template:Country data Peru	11 February 1938	See Peru–Sweden relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 February 1938. Peru has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden is accredited to Peru from its embassy in Santiago, Chile.
Template:Country data United States	29 April 1818	See Sweden–United States relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 April 1818. Sweden and the United States have had strong ties since the 18th century. Sweden has an embassy in Washington, D.C. United States has an embassy in Stockholm. Both countries are members of NATO.

Asia

Country	Formal relations began	Notes
Template:Country data Armenia	10 July 1992	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 10 July 1992. Armenia has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden opened an embassy in Yerevan 2014. Sweden has recognized the Armenian genocide on March 29, 2000. There are around 8,000 people of Armenian descent living in Sweden. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe.
Template:Country data Azerbaijan	8 May 1992	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 8 May 1992. The embassy of Sweden in Baku opened in 2014. Azerbaijani opened an embassy in Stockholm. Currently, approximately 10 thousand Azerbaijanis live in Sweden, and in addition about 30 thousand Azerbaijanis from Iran. In 2006, a diaspora organization called «Odlar yurdu» was established in Sweden. In 2010, the Congress of Swedish Azerbaijanis was established.
Template:Country data China		See China–Sweden relations. China has an embassy in Stockholm and a consulate-general in Gothenburg. Sweden has an embassy in Beijing and consulates-general in Hong Kong and Shanghai. In July 2019, the UN ambassadors from 22 nations, including Sweden, signed a joint letter to the UNHRC condemning China's mistreatment of the Uyghurs as well as its mistreatment of other minority groups, urging the Chinese government to close the Xinjiang internment camps.
Template:Country data Georgia	19 September 1992	See Georgia–Sweden relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 19 September 1992. Georgia has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Tbilisi. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe. Georgia is an EU candidate and Sweden is an EU member.
Template:Country data India		See India–Sweden relations. India has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in New Delhi and a consulate-general in Mumbai.
Template:Country data Indonesia		See Indonesia–Sweden relations.
Template:Country data Iran	5 September 1897	See Iran–Sweden relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 5 September 1897 when has been accredited first Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Persia to Sweden with residence in St. Peterbourg Mirza Reza Khan Ar Faed-Doouleh. Iran has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Tehran.
Template:Country data Iraq		See Iraq–Sweden relations. The Swedish Embassy in Iraq is permanently closed after attacks by protesters over Quran Burning on the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad. Iraq severed ties with Sweden since July 2023, after Swedish authorities allowed a man to burn the Iraqi flag and the Quran in front of the Iraqi Embassy, Stockholm.
Template:Country data Israel		See Israel–Sweden relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1949. Israel has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Tel Aviv.
Template:Country data Japan	1868	See Japan–Sweden relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1868 by signing the Swedish-Japanese Treaty in 1868. Sweden has an embassy in Tokyo. Sweden has consulates in Kobe and Fukuoka. Japan has an embassy in Stockholm.
Template:Country data Kazakhstan	7 April 1992	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 April 1992. Sweden has an embassy in Astana. Kazakhstan has an embassy in Stockholm.
Template:Country data Kuwait	22 December 1964	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 22 December 1964 when Sweden opened its embassy in Kuwait.
Template:Country data Malaysia		See Malaysia–Sweden relations. Diplomatic relations were established in 1958. Sweden has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has an embassy in Stockholm. As of 2009, 90 Swedish companies are present in Malaysia and about 450 Swedish citizens live in Malaysia.
Template:Country data North Korea	April 7, 1973	See North Korea–Sweden relations. North Korea has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Pyongyang.
Template:Country data Palestine	October 30, 2014	See Palestine–Sweden relations.
Template:Country data Saudi Arabia		See Saudi Arabia–Sweden relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1957.
Template:Country data South Korea	11 March 1959	See South Korea–Sweden relations The establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Sweden began on March 11, 1959. Sweden has a Working Holiday Program agreement with South Korea. There is no quote for South Korean citizens working in Sweden. South Korea has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Seoul. Sweden has consulates in Busan, Daegu, Daejon, Gwangju, Hongcheon, Incheon. Sweden and South Korea are member states of the UN, WTO and OECD. South Korean MFA relations with the Kingdom of Sweden
Template:Country data Syria	24 June 1947	See Sweden–Syria relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 June 1947 when has been accredited Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of Sweden to Syria with residence in Cairo, Widar Bagge.
Template:Country data Turkey		See Sweden–Turkey relations. Sweden has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate-general in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden is an EU member and Turkey is a candidate. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, NATO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Union for the Mediterranean. Sweden supports Turkey's European Union membership. Turkey did not fully support the accession of Sweden to NATO until January 2024, whereupon it was accepted.

Europe

Region	Formal relations began	Notes
Template:Country data Albania	20 June 1969	See Albania–Sweden relations Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 June 1969. Albania has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Tirana. Both countries are members of NATO. Albania is an EU candidate and Sweden is an EU member.
Template:Country data Austria		Austria has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Vienna. There are 7,000 Austrians living in Sweden. There are 2,000 Swedes living in Austria. Both countries became members of the European Union on 1 January 1995.
Template:Country data Belarus	14 January 1992	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 January 1992. There are 3,000 Belarusian living in Sweden and above 1,000 Swedes living in Belarus. Belarus has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Minsk. Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Template:Country data Belgium	23 February 1837	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 February 1837 when has been accredited Chargé d'Affaires of Belgium to Sweden baron T. Vander Straten Ponthoz. There is an ethnic group of Walloons living in Sweden making up the 8,000 Belgians living in Sweden and 5,000 Swedes living in Belgium. Belgium has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an ambassador accredited to Belgium based in Stockholm. Both countries are members of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data Bosnia and Herzegovina	15 December 1992	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 December 1992.
Template:Country data Bulgaria	July 6, 1914	There are approximately 3,000 Swedes living in Bulgaria and Bulgaria has embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an ambassador accredited to Bulgaria based in Stockholm. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data Croatia	29 January 1992	See Croatia–Sweden relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 January 1992. Croatia has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Zagreb. Sweden joined the European Union as a full member on 1 January 1995, while Croatia joined on 1 July 2013. Both countries are members of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data Cyprus		See Cyprus–Sweden relations. Cyprus has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Nicosia. Sweden joined the European Union as a full member on 1 January 1995, while Cyprus joined on 1 May 2004.
Template:Country data Czech Republic	1 January 1993	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 1 January 1993. Czech Republic has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Prague. Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO, and the Council of Europe.
Template:Country data Denmark		See Denmark–Sweden relations. Today, both countries are separated by the Øresund, which links the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, of the Council of Europe, and of the European Union. There are around 21,000 Swedes living in Denmark and there are around 42,000 Danes living in Sweden. Denmark has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Copenhagen. Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO, and the Council of Europe.
Template:Country data Estonia	28 August 1991	See Estonia–Sweden relations. Estonia was under Swedish rule between 1561 and 1721 Sweden recognized Estonia on 4 February 1921. Sweden resumed diplomatic relations with Estonia on 28 August 1991. Estonia has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Tallinn. Both countries are members of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data Finland		See Finland–Sweden relations. Finnish–Swedish relations have a long history (Sweden and Finland were the same country for several hundred years), due to the close relationship between Finland and Sweden. Particularly in Finland, the issue emerges in frequent exposés of Finnish history, and in motives for governmental proposals and actions as reported in Finnish news broadcasts in English or other foreign languages. In Sweden, this relationship is a recurrent important theme of 20th-century history, although maybe by most Swedes considered to be an issue of purely historical relevance now that both countries have been members of the European Union since 1995. Finland has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Helsinki and a consulate-general in Mariehamn. Both countries became members of the European Union on 1 January 1995. Both countries applied for NATO membership on 18 May 2022. Finland became a member on 4 April 2023, while Sweden became a member on 7 March 2024. Both countries are members of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data France		See France–Sweden relations. France has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Paris. Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO, and the Council of Europe.
Template:Country data Germany		See Germany–Sweden relations. Germany has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Berlin. Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO, and the Council of Europe.
Template:Country data Greece	24 January 1833	See Greece–Sweden relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 24 January 1833 when Carl Peter von Heidenstam (until then Consul General) was appointed as Chargé d'Affaires of the Kingdom of Sweden and Norway in Greece. Greece has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Athens. Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO, and the Council of Europe.
Template:Country data Hungary		See Hungary–Sweden relations. Diplomacy relations between the two countries started on December 28, 1945. Hungary has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Budapest. Sweden joined the European Union as a full member on 1 January 1995, while Hungary joined on 1 May 2004. Both countries are members of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data Iceland		See Iceland–Sweden relations. Iceland has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Reykjavík. Both countries are members of NATO.
Template:Country data Ireland	18 July 1946	See Ireland–Sweden relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 18 July 1946. Ireland has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Dublin. Both countries are full members of Council of Europe and of the European Union.
Template:Country data Italy	23 December 1859	See Italy–Sweden relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 23 December 1859 when the first interim Chargé d'Affaires, Giov. Antonio Migliorati, was appointed. Italy has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Rome. Both countries are members of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data Kosovo		See Kosovo–Sweden relations. Sweden recognized Kosovo on March 4, 2008. Liaison Office of Sweden in Pristina, subordinated to the embassy in Skopje, North Macedonia. On March 8, 2008, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt became the first foreign minister to officially visit Kosovo since it declared its independence. Sweden currently has 243 troops serving in Kosovo as peacekeepers in the NATO led Kosovo Force. Kosovo has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Pristina.
Template:Country data Latvia	28 August 1991	See Latvia–Sweden relations. Sweden recognized Latvia on 4 February 1921. Sweden resumed diplomatic relations with Latvia on 28 August 1991. Latvia has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Riga. Sweden joined the European Union as a full member on 1 January 1995, while Latvia joined on 1 May 2004. Both countries are members of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data Lithuania	28 August 1991	See Lithuania–Sweden relations. Sweden recognized Lithuania on 28 September 1921. Sweden resumed diplomatic relations with Lithuania on 28 August 1991. Lithuania has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Vilnius. Sweden joined the European Union as a full member on 1 January 1995, while Lithuania joined on 1 May 2004. Both countries are members of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data Moldova	12 June 1992	See Moldova–Sweden relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 June 1992. Sweden is one of Moldova's top donors. From 1996, Sweden provided Moldova with technical assistance worth 30 million dollars, which significantly helped strengthen sectors such as: protection of human rights, democracy, good governance, public health, education, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, transport and the private sector. Much of the aid is delivered through the Swedish International Development Agency. In 2007, the Swedish Government established the 2007–2010 strategy of cooperation with Moldova, which sees 11 million euros in financial assistance annually for three important sectors: good governance, strengthening of com petitiveness in the rural area and reduction of vulnerability in the energy sector. Moldova has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Chişinău. Moldova is an EU candidate and Sweden is an EU member. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe.
Template:Country data The Netherlands		See Netherlands–Sweden relations. The Netherlands has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in The Hague. Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO, and of the Council of Europe.
Template:Country data Norway		See Norway–Sweden relations. Norway has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Oslo. Both countries are members of NATO.
Template:Country data Poland		See Poland–Sweden relations. Poland has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Warsaw. Sweden joined the European Union as a full member on 1 January 1995, while Poland joined on 1 May 2004. Both countries are members of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data Portugal		See Portugal–Sweden relations. Portugal has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Lisbon. Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO, and the Council of Europe.
Template:Country data Romania	1 November 1916	Romania has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Bucharest. Sweden joined the European Union as a full member on 1 January 1995, while Romania joined on 1 January 2007. Both countries are members of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data Russia		See Russia–Sweden relations. Russia has an embassy in Stockholm and a consulate-general in Gothenburg. Sweden has an embassy in Moscow and a consulate-general in Saint Petersburg.
Template:Country data Serbia		See Serbia–Sweden relations. Serbia has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Belgrade. Serbia is an EU candidate and Sweden is an EU member.
Template:Country data Slovenia		Slovenia is accredited to Sweden from its embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark. Sweden is accredited to Slovenia from its embassy in Budapest, Hungary. Both countries are full members of the European Union and NATO.
Template:Country data Spain		See Spain–Sweden relations. Spain has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Madrid. Both countries are full members of the European Union, NATO, and the Council of Europe.
Template:Country data Switzerland		Sweden has an embassy in Bern. Switzerland has an embassy in Stockholm. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe.
Template:Country data Ukraine	13 January 1992	See Sweden–Ukraine relations. Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 January 1992. A Ukrainian information bureau was opened 1916 in Stockholm by Volodymyr Stepankivskyi and M. Zaliznyak. In 1918 an official diplomatic mission from the Ukrainian People's Republic headed by K. Lossky was opened in Stockholm. Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Sweden were established on January 13, 1992. Sweden has an embassy in Kyiv. Ukraine has an embassy in Stockholm. Both countries are members of the Council of Europe. Sweden is an EU member and Ukraine is a candidate.
Template:Country data United Kingdom	23 December 1653	See Sweden–United Kingdom relations. Sweden established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 23 December 1653. Sweden maintains an embassy in London. The United Kingdom is accredited to Sweden through its embassy in Stockholm. Both countries share common membership of the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights, the International Criminal Court, the Joint Expeditionary Force, NATO, the OECD, the OSCE, the United Nations, and the World Trade Organization. Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Convention, a Mutual Defence Agreement, and a Strategic Partnership.

Oceania

Country	Formal relations began	Notes
Template:Country data Australia		See Australia–Sweden relations. Australia has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Canberra and eight honorary consulates: Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Template:Country data Fiji	3 April 1979	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 April 1979.
Template:Country data New Zealand		See New Zealand–Sweden relations. New Zealand has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden is accredited to New Zealand from its embassy in Canberra.

See also

• Politics of Sweden
• List of diplomatic missions in Sweden
• List of diplomatic missions of Sweden
• List of state visits made by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
• Scandinavian defence union
• Visa requirements for Swedish citizens
• Arctic policy of Sweden
• List of ambassadors of Sweden to Ukraine
• Sweden–NATO relations

Further reading

• Elgström, Ole, and Magnus Jerneck. "Activism and adaptation: Swedish security strategies, 1814–85." Diplomacy and Statecraft 8.3 (1997): 210–236.
• Grimberg, Carl. A History of Sweden (1935) online free
• Horn, David Bayne. Great Britain and Europe in the eighteenth century (1967) covers 1603–1702; pp 236–69.
• Lindström, Peter, and Svante Norrhem. Flattering Alliances: Scandinavia, Diplomacy and the Austrian-French Balance of Power, 1648–1740 (Nordic Academic Press, 2013).
• Makko, Aryo. Ambassadors of Realpolitik: Sweden, the CSCE and the Cold War (2016) excerpt
• Nordstrom, Byron J. The History of Sweden (2002) excerpt and text search; also full text online free to borrow
• Salmon, Patrick. Scandinavia and the great powers 1890–1940 (Cambridge University Press, 2002).
• Sevin, Efe. Public diplomacy and the implementation of foreign policy in the US, Sweden and Turkey (Springer International Publishing, 2017).

External links

• CIA World Factbook – Sweden
• United States Department of State – Sweden
• "Sweden and Africa — a policy to address common challenges and opportunities" White paper delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Riksdag March 6, 2008