Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden
Lesser coat of arms of Sweden
Incumbent Tobias Billström since 18 October 2022
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Style	Excellency was used up to the 1970s in Sweden; but is still used in diplomatic writing
Member of	Government of Sweden National Security Council
Seat	Arvfurstens palats, Stockholm, Sweden
Appointer	The Prime Minister
Term length	No fixed term Serves as long as the Prime Minister sees fit
Formation	6 June 1809 (as Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs) 20 March 1876 (as Minister for Foreign Affairs) 6 June 1974 (as Councilor of State and Head of the Foreign Department)
First holder	Oscar Björnstjerna
Deputy	State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Website	www.sweden.gov.se

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (in Swedish, utrikesminister) is a very important job in Sweden. This person is like the main diplomat for the country. They lead the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. This ministry is the government department that handles all of Sweden's relationships with other countries.

The person holding this role right now is Tobias Billström from the Moderate Party.

A Look Back: How the Role Changed
- Early Days: Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs
- The Modern Minister: Since 1876
Who Has Held the Job?
- Leaders from 1809 to 1876
- Leaders from 1876 to Today
Timeline of Foreign Ministers
Images for kids
See also

A Look Back: How the Role Changed

The job of Foreign Minister started in 1809. It was created because of a new set of rules for how Sweden was governed. These rules were called the Instrument of Government.

Early Days: Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs

Until 1876, the role was called the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs. This was similar to the Prime Minister for Justice. The person in this role first managed foreign mail. Later, in 1840, they became the head of the new Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

In 1876, the main job of Prime Minister of Sweden was created. At that time, the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs became simply a "Minister." However, people still used to call them "Your Excellency" until 1974. This special title was usually given to members of important noble families before the early 1900s.

The Modern Minister: Since 1876

Since 1876, the role has been known as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. This person plays a key part in how Sweden interacts with the rest of the world. They work to build good relationships and solve global problems.

Who Has Held the Job?

Many different people have served as Sweden's top diplomat. Here are the lists of those who have held this important position.

Leaders from 1809 to 1876

These are the people who served as the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Name	Took office	Left office	Political party
Lars von Engeström	9 June 1809	8 June 1824	Independent
Gustaf af Wetterstedt	8 June 1824	15 May 1837	Independent
Adolf Mörner (acting)	15 May 1837	30 January 1838	Independent
Gustaf Algernon Stierneld	30 January 1838	11 July 1842	Independent
Albrecht Elof Ihre (acting)	5 September 1840	29 December 1842	Independent
Albrecht Elof Ihre	29 December 1842	10 April 1848	Independent
Gustaf Algernon Stierneld	10 April 1848	8 September 1856	Independent
Elias Lagerheim	8 September 1856	16 March 1858	Independent
Ludvig Manderström	16 March 1858	4 June 1868	Independent
Carl Wachtmeister	4 June 1868	14 October 1871	Independent
Baltzar von Platen	10 November 1871	17 December 1872	Independent
Oscar Björnstjerna	17 December 1872	20 March 1876	Independent

Leaders from 1876 to Today

These are the people who have served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs since 1876.

Political Parties

No party Lantmanna Party Social Democrat Conservative / Moderate Party Liberal / People's Party Centre Party

Status

Denotes acting Minister for Foreign Affairs

No.	Portrait	Minister (Born–Died)	Tenure			Political party	Cabinet
No.	Portrait	Minister (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Political party	Cabinet
1		Oscar Björnstjerna (1819–1905)	20 March 1876	19 April 1880	4 years, 30 days	Independent		De Geer Sr. (II)
2		Carl Hochschild (1831–1898)	27 April 1880	25 September 1885	5 years, 151 days	Independent		Posse
2		Carl Hochschild (1831–1898)	27 April 1880	25 September 1885	5 years, 151 days	Independent		Thyselius
3		Albert Ehrensvärd the Elder (1821–1901)	25 September 1885	12 June 1889	3 years, 260 days	Independent		Themptander
3		Albert Ehrensvärd the Elder (1821–1901)	25 September 1885	12 June 1889	3 years, 260 days	Independent		Gillis Bildt
4		Gustaf Åkerhielm (1833–1900)	12 June 1889	12 October 1889	122 days	Protectionist Party		Gillis Bildt
5		Carl Lewenhaupt (1835–1906)	12 October 1889	1 June 1895	5 years, 232 days	Independent		Åkerhielm
5		Carl Lewenhaupt (1835–1906)	12 October 1889	1 June 1895	5 years, 232 days	Independent		Boström (I)
6		Ludvig Douglas (1849–1916)	1 June 1895	13 October 1899	4 years, 134 days	Independent		Boström (I)
7		Alfred Lagerheim (1843–1924)	20 December 1899	7 December 1904	4 years, 353 days	Lantmanna Party		von Otter
7		Alfred Lagerheim (1843–1924)	20 December 1899	7 December 1904	4 years, 353 days	Lantmanna Party		Boström (II)
8		August Gyldenstolpe (1849–1928)	22 December 1904	2 August 1905	223 days	Independent		Ramstedt
9		Fredrik Wachtmeister (1855–1919)	2 August 1905	7 November 1905	97 days	Protectionist Party		Lundeberg
10		Eric Trolle (1863–1934)	7 November 1905	17 March 1909	3 years, 130 days	Independent		Staaff (I)
10		Eric Trolle (1863–1934)	7 November 1905	17 March 1909	3 years, 130 days	Independent		Lindman (I)
11		Arvid Taube (1853–1916)	30 April 1909	7 October 1911	2 years, 160 days	General Electoral League		Lindman (I)
12		Albert Ehrensvärd the Younger (1867–1940)	7 October 1911	17 February 1914	2 years, 133 days	Liberal Coalition Party		Staaff (I)
13		Knut Wallenberg (1853–1938)	17 February 1914	30 March 1917	3 years, 41 days	National Party		Hammarskjöld
14		Arvid Lindman (1862–1936)	30 March 1917	19 October 1917	203 days	General Electoral League		Swartz
15		Johannes Hellner (1866–1947)	19 October 1917	10 March 1920	2 years, 143 days	Liberal Coalition Party		Edén
16		Erik Palmstierna (1877–1959)	10 March 1920	27 October 1920	231 days	Social Democrats		Branting (I)
17		Herman Wrangel (1857–1934)	27 October 1920	13 October 1921	351 days	Independent		De Geer Jr.
17		Herman Wrangel (1857–1934)	27 October 1920	13 October 1921	351 days	Independent		von Sydow
18		Hjalmar Branting (1860–1925)	13 October 1921	19 April 1923	1 year, 188 days	Social Democrats		Branting (II)
19		Carl Hederstierna (1861–1928)	19 April 1923	11 November 1923	206 days	General Electoral League		Trygger
20		Erik Marks von Würtemberg (1861–1937)	11 November 1923	18 October 1924	342 days	General Electoral League		Trygger
21		Östen Undén (1886–1974)	18 October 1924	7 June 1926	1 year, 232 days	Social Democrats		Branting (III)
21		Östen Undén (1886–1974)	18 October 1924	7 June 1926	1 year, 232 days	Social Democrats		Sandler
22		Eliel Löfgren (1872–1940)	7 June 1926	2 October 1928	2 years, 117 days	Liberal Party		Ekman (I)
23		Ernst Trygger (1857–1943)	2 October 1928	7 June 1930	1 year, 248 days	National Party		Lindman (II)
24		Fredrik Ramel (1872–1947)	7 June 1930	24 September 1932	2 years, 109 days	Independent		Ekman (II)
24		Fredrik Ramel (1872–1947)	7 June 1930	24 September 1932	2 years, 109 days	Independent		Hamrin
25		Rickard Sandler (1884–1964)	24 September 1932	19 June 1936	3 years, 269 days	Social Democrats		Hansson (I)
26		Karl Gustaf Westman (1876–1944)	19 June 1936	28 September 1936	101 days	Farmer's League		Pehrsson-Bramstorp
27		Rickard Sandler (1884–1964)	28 September 1936	13 December 1939	3 years, 76 days	Social Democrats		Hansson (II)
28		Christian Günther (1886–1966)	13 December 1939	31 July 1945	5 years, 230 days	Independent		Hansson (III)
29		Östen Undén (1886–1974)	31 July 1945	19 September 1962	17 years, 50 days	Social Democrats		Hansson (IV)
								Erlander (I)
								Erlander (II)
								Erlander (III)
30		Torsten Nilsson (1905–1997)	19 September 1962	30 June 1971	8 years, 284 days	Social Democrats		Erlander (III)
30		Torsten Nilsson (1905–1997)	19 September 1962	30 June 1971	8 years, 284 days	Social Democrats		Palme (I)
31		Krister Wickman (1924–1993)	30 June 1971	3 November 1973	2 years, 126 days	Social Democrats
32		Sven Andersson (1910–1987)	3 November 1973	8 October 1976	2 years, 340 days	Social Democrats
33		Karin Söder (1928–2015)	8 October 1976	18 October 1978	2 years, 10 days	Centre Party		Fälldin (I)
34		Hans Blix (born 1928)	18 October 1978	12 October 1979	359 days	People's Party		Ullsten
35		Ola Ullsten (1931–2018)	12 October 1979	8 October 1982	2 years, 361 days	People's Party		Fälldin (II)
35		Ola Ullsten (1931–2018)	12 October 1979	8 October 1982	2 years, 361 days	People's Party		Fälldin (III)
36		Lennart Bodström (1928–2015)	8 October 1982	17 October 1985	3 years, 9 days	Social Democrats		Palme (II)
37		Sten Andersson (1923–2006)	17 October 1985	4 October 1991	5 years, 352 days	Social Democrats		Palme (II)
								Carlsson (I)
								Carlsson (II)
38		Margaretha af Ugglas (born 1939)	4 October 1991	7 October 1994	3 years, 3 days	Moderate Party		Carl Bildt
39		Lena Hjelm-Wallén (born 1943)	7 October 1994	7 October 1998	4 years, 0 days	Social Democrats		Carlsson (III)
39		Lena Hjelm-Wallén (born 1943)	7 October 1994	7 October 1998	4 years, 0 days	Social Democrats		Persson
40		Anna Lindh (1957–2003)	7 October 1998	11 September 2003	4 years, 339 days	Social Democrats
–		Jan O. Karlsson (1939–2016)	11 September 2003	10 October 2003	29 days	Social Democrats
41		Laila Freivalds (born 1942)	10 October 2003	21 March 2006	2 years, 162 days	Social Democrats
–		Bo Ringholm (born 1942)	21 March 2006	27 March 2006	6 days	Social Democrats
–		Carin Jämtin (born 1964)	27 March 2006	24 April 2006	28 days	Social Democrats
42		Jan Eliasson (born 1940)	24 April 2006	6 October 2006	165 days	Social Democrats
43		Carl Bildt (born 1949)	6 October 2006	3 October 2014	7 years, 362 days	Moderate Party		Reinfeldt
44		Margot Wallström (born 1954)	3 October 2014	10 September 2019	4 years, 342 days	Social Democrats		Löfven (I)
44		Margot Wallström (born 1954)	3 October 2014	10 September 2019	4 years, 342 days	Social Democrats		Löfven (II)
45		Ann Linde (born 1961)	10 September 2019	18 October 2022	3 years, 38 days	Social Democrats		Löfven (II) · (III) Andersson
46		Tobias Billström (born 1973)	18 October 2022	Incumbent	2 years, 258 days	Moderate Party		Kristersson