Tobias Billström

On Tuesday 30 May, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Sweden. On the first day of the visit, he will meet with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström at Luleå air base, Norrbotten Wing (F 21). A press conference will be held after the meeting.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström gave a speech on 25 May on the occasion of Africa Day. Check against delivery

Developments in the Western Balkans were on the agenda for the Foreign Affairs Council meeting of EU foreign ministers on 22 May. At Sweden’s initiative, a working lunch with the foreign ministers from the Western Balkan countries was held in conjunction with the meeting.

New time for the press conference: 12.20. Tomorrow, Friday 26 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström will hold a joint press conference with Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares Bueno. At the press conference, the ministers will discuss matters such as Sweden’s application to join NATO and the foreign policy priorities of the Swedish and Spanish Presidencies of the Council of the European Union.

On 30–31 May, Sweden will host a meeting of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) within the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The TTC serves as the main forum for the US and EU to coordinate approaches to key global trade, economic and technology issues. The meeting will be held in Luleå and is the fourth of its kind.

On 13 May 2023, the second EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum was held in Stockholm. The Ministerial Forum was co-chaired by Mr Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, and Mr Tobias Billström, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden.

Opening speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum on 13 May in Stockholm. Check against delivery.

At the invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba will visit Stockholm today to attend the informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers. Agenda items include discussions on the EU’s continued support to Ukraine, including Ukraine’s closer ties with the EU, and measures to maintain pressure on Russia.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs summoned Iran’s acting Ambassador today, Saturday 6 May, to protest against the execution of Swedish citizen Habib Chaab earlier in the day.

On Saturday 15 April, intense fighting erupted in Sudan. For the Government, taking quick action was of the utmost importance, and evacuation preparations began the same day. Following a successful evacuation, the Swedish Armed Forces operation has now been concluded, but the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is continuing to provide consular support to Swedes. At the same time, efforts are being intensified to find a solution to the conflict in Sudan and to avoid spillover effects in an already fragile region. Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström comments on the situation.

On Saturday 13 May, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström and EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell will co-chair the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Stockholm, in the context of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU. With the aim of strengthening the partnership between the EU and the Indo-Pacific region, the meeting will bring together around 60 foreign ministers from the Indo-Pacific region and the EU, along with representatives of Indo-Pacific regional organisations and other partners.

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström at the European Humanitarian Forum on 20 March in Brussels. Check against delivery.

All NATO member countries have now ratified Finland’s application, and Finland will thereby become a full member in the coming days.

The second Summit for Democracy is taking place on 29–30 March. Sweden is represented at the virtual summit and several side events by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Minister for Culture Parisa Liljestrand.

The following is a statement from the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States and the High Representative of the European Union.

The government bill is an important step on the path to NATO membership. The Riksdag’s approval is required for Sweden to accede to NATO.

Today, the Government presented a bill proposing that the Riksdag approve Sweden’s accession to NATO. The bill is an important step on the path to Swedish NATO membership. Following the Riksdag’s approval, Sweden can become a full NATO member country once all of the member countries have ratified Sweden’s Accession Protocol.

Today, UN negotiations on an agreement to protect marine biodiversity succeeded after 15 years. The agreement will establish rules to limit environmental impacts and marine protected areas beyond national jurisdiction, which make up 95 per cent of the volume of the world’s oceans. The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union has led the negotiations on behalf of the EU and its Member States together with the European Commission.