Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström announced he would resign next week after nearly two years in office.
It is with a mixture of sadness and pride that I have today informed the prime minister that I will leave the post of foreign minister at the opening of parliament next week.
Billström, who became foreign minister in October 2022, said he would retire from politics but had not yet decided what he would do next. He stated that he had been active in politics for 25 years, ten of which he served as minister.
“I am going to leave politics completely. That means that I am also leaving my seat in parliament. But I am only 50 years old and look forward to working hard and contributing in another role where my engagement can bear results.”
He also noted that he was “happy and extremely proud” that his country managed to join NATO during his tenure.
The significance of this for the security of Sweden and our Nordic and Baltic neighbours is almost impossible to overestimate.
