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

thumb|right|

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

thumb|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

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

!width="15%"| Organization

!width="12%"| Formal relations began

!Notes

|--valign="top"

|||<!--Start date-->

|See 1995 enlargement of the European Union

Sweden joined the European Union as a full member on 1 January 1995.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--Start date-->

| 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:

{| class="wikitable sortable"

! colspan="3" |frameless|425x425px

|-

!#

!Country

!Date

|-

|1

|

|

|-

|2

|

|

|-

|3

|

|

|-

|4

|

|

|-

|5

|

|

|-

|6

|

|

|-

|7

|

|

|-

|8

|

|

|-

|9

|

|

|-

|10

|

|

|-

|11

|

|

|-

|12

|

|

|-

|13

|

|

|-

|14

|

|

|-

|15

|

|

|-

|16

|

|

|-

|17

|

|

|-

|18

|

|

|-

|19

|

|

|-

|20

|

|

|-

|21

|

|

|-

|22

|

|

|-

|23

|

|

|-

|24

|

|

|-

|25

|

|

|-

|26

|

|

|-

|27

|

|

|-

|28

|

|

|-

|29

|

|

|-

|30

|

|

|-

|31

|

|

|-

|32

|

|

|-

|33

|

|

|-

|34

|

|

|-

|35

|

|

|-

|36

|

|

|-

|37

|

|

|-

|38

|

|

|-

|39

|

|

|-

|40

|

|

|-

|41

|

|

|-

|42

|

|

|-

|43

|

|

|-

|44

|

|

|-

|45

|

|

|-

|47

|

|

|-

|48

|

|

|-

|49

|

|

|-

|50

|

|

|-

|51

|

|

|-

|52

|

|

|-

|53

|

|

|-

|54

|

|

|-

|55

|

|

|-

|56

|

|

|-

|57

|

|

|-

|58

|

|

|-

|59

|

|

|-

|60

|

|

|-

|61

|

|

|-

|62

|

|

|-

|63

|

|

|-

|64

|

|

|-

|65

|

|

|-

|66

|

|

|-

|67

|

|

|-

|68

|

|

|-

|69

|

|

|-

|70

|

|

|-

|71

|

|

|-

|72

|

|

|-

|73

|

|

|-

|74

|

|

|-

|75

|

|

|-

|76

|

|

|-

|77

|

|

|-

|78

|

|

|-

|79

|

|

|-

|80

|

|

|-

|81

|

|

|-

|82

|

|

|-

|83

|

|

|-

|84

|

|

|-

|85

|

|

|-

|86

|

|

|-

|87

|

|

|-

|88

|

|

|-

|89

|

|

|-

|91

|

|

|-

|92

|

|

|-

|93

|

|

|-

|94

|

|

|-

|95

|

|

|-

|96

|

|

|-

|97

|

|

|-

|98

|

|

|-

|99

|

|

|-

|100

|

|

|-

|101

|

|

|-

|102

|

|

|-

|103

|

|

|-

|104

|

|

|-

|105

|

|

|-

|106

|

|

|-

|107

|

|

|-

|108

|

|

|-

|109

|

|

|-

|110

|

|

|-

|111

|

|

|-

|112

|

|

|-

|113

|

|

|-

|114

|

|

|-

|115

|

|

|-

|116

|

|

|-

|117

|

|

|-

|118

|

|

|-

|119

|

|

|-

|120

|

|

|-

|121

|

|

|-

|122

|

|

|-

|123

|

|

|-

|124

|

|

|-

|125

|

|

|-

|126

|

|

|-

|127

|

|

|-

|128

|

|

|-

|129

|

|

|-

|130

|

|

|-

|131

|

|

|-

|132

|

|

|-

|133

|

|

|-

|134

|

|

|-

|135

|

|

|-

|136

|

|

|-

|137

|

|

|-

|138

|

|

|-

|139

|

|

|-

|140

|

|

|-

|141

|

|

|-

|142

|

|

|-

|143

|

|

|-

|144

|

|

|-

|145

|

|

|-

|146

|

|

|-

|147

|

|

|-

|148

|

|

|-

|149

|

|

|-

|150

|

|

|-

|—

|

|

|-

|151

|

|

|-

|152

|

|

|-

|153

|

|

|-

|154

|

|

|-

|155

|

|

|-

|156

|

|

|-

|157

|

|

|-

|158

|

|

|-

|162

|

|

|-

|163

|

|

|-

|164

|

|

|-

|165

|

|

|-

|166

|

|

|-

|167

|

|

|-

|168

|

|

|-

|169

|

|

|-

|170

|

|

|-

|171

|

|

|-

|172

|

|

|-

|173

|

|

|-

|174

|

|

|-

|175

|

|

|-

|176

|

|

|-

|177

|

|

|-

|178

|

|

|-

|179

|

|

|-

|180

|

|

|-

|181

|

|

|-

|182

|

|

|-

|183

|

|

|-

|184

|

|

|-

|185

|

|

|-

|186

|

|

|-

|187

|

|

|-

|—

|

|

|-

|188

|

|

|-

|189

|

|

|-

|190

|

|

|-

|191

|

|

|-

|192

|

|

|-

|—

|

|

|}

Africa

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

!width="15%"| Region

!width="12%"| Formal relations began

!Notes

|--valign="top"

|||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.

|}

Americas

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

!width="15%"| Region

!width="12%"| Formal relations began

!Notes

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- Start date -->||See Argentina–Sweden relations

  • Argentina has an embassy in Stockholm.
  • Sweden has an embassy in Buenos Aires.

|-- valign="top"

|||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.

|--valign="top"

|||2 February 1932||Both countries established diplomatic relations on 2 February 1932. 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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- Start date -->1827||See Chile–Sweden relations

  • Chile has an embassy in Stockholm and a consulate in Gothenburg.
  • Sweden has an embassy in Santiago.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- Start date -->11 December 1874

|See Colombia–Sweden relations

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->1850||See Mexico–Sweden relations.

  • Mexico has an embassy in Stockholm.
  • Sweden has an embassy in Mexico City.

|--valign="top"

|||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.

|-- valign="top"

|||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

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

!width="15%"| Country

!width="12%"| Formal relations began

!Notes

|-- valign="top"

|||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.

|-- valign="top"

|

|8 May 1992

|See Azerbaijan–Sweden relations

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.
  • Both countries are members of the Council of Europe.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- Start date -->||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.

|--valign="top"

|||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||See India–Sweden relations.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||See Indonesia–Sweden relations.

|--valign="top"

|||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||See Israel–Sweden relations.

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1949. Israel has an embassy in Stockholm. Sweden has an embassy in Tel Aviv.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->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.

|-- valign="top"

|

|7 April 1992

|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 7 April 1992.||See North Korea–Sweden relations.

  • North Korea has an embassy in Stockholm.
  • Sweden has an embassy in Pyongyang.

|--valign="top"

|||October 30, 2014||See Palestine–Sweden relations.

|-- valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||See Saudi Arabia–Sweden relations.

Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1957.

|--valign="top"

|||11 March 1959||See South Korea–Sweden relations

The establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Sweden began on March 11, 1959. Turkey did not fully support the accession of Sweden to NATO until January 2024, whereupon it was accepted.

|}

Europe

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

!width="15%"| Region

!width="12%"| Formal relations began

!Notes

|--valign="top"

|||20 June 1969||See Albania–Sweden relations

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 June 1969.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->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.

|--valign="top"

|||29 January 1992||See Croatia–Sweden relations.

  • Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 January 1992.
  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||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.

|--valign="top"

|||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||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.

|--valign="top"

|||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.

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.

|--valign="top"

|||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. 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.

|--valign="top"

|||28 August 1991||See Latvia–Sweden relations.

Sweden recognized Latvia on 4 February 1921.

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||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.

|--valign="top"

|||12 June 1992||See Moldova–Sweden relations.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 12 June 1992. 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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--Date started-->||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||See Norway–Sweden relations.

  • Norway has an embassy in Stockholm.
  • Sweden has an embassy in Oslo.
  • Both countries are members of NATO.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!-- Start date -->||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||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.

|- valign="top"

|||<!--Date started-->||

  • 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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||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.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||

  • Sweden has an embassy in Bern.
  • Switzerland has an embassy in Stockholm.
  • Both countries are members of the Council of Europe.

|--valign="top"

|||13 January 1992||See Sweden–Ukraine relations.

Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 January 1992. 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.

|- valign="top"

||| 23 December 1653 ||See Sweden–United Kingdom relations.

Sweden established diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom on 23 December 1653.

  • 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

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" style="width:100%; margin:auto;"

!width="15%"| Country

!width="12%"| Formal relations began

!Notes

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||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.

|-

|

|3 April 1979

|Both countries established diplomatic relations on 3 April 1979.

|--valign="top"

|||<!--start date -->||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

References

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