Sweden’s foreign minister announces surprise departure from politics

Sweden’s foreign minister Tobias Billstrom, who steered the Scandinavian country to Nato membership and stood tall on supporting Ukraine, stunned the political establishment on Wednesday by saying he was leaving the Swedish government next week.

“It has not been an easy decision but something that I have thought about and processed for some time,” Mr Billstrom wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Mr Billstrom became foreign minister in October 2022, when Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson formed a coalition government with his own conservative Moderate Party, the smaller Christian Democrats and the Liberals.

In May 2022, Sweden and neighbouring Finland sought Nato membership, ending decades of post-Second World War neutrality and centuries of broader non-alignment with major powers as security concerns in Europe spiked following Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

After 18 months of delays, Sweden’s membership bid cleared the final hurdle in February as Hungary gave its consent.

Turkey also objected to Sweden joining the alliance, but on January 23, Turkish legislators voted in favour. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan put forth a series of conditions including a tougher stance from Stockholm toward groups that Turkey regards as threats to its security, such as Kurdish militants and members of a network it blames for a failed coup in 2016.

Sweden became the 32nd member of the military alliance in March. The 50-year-old Mr Billstrom said on X that he had taken Sweden through “a sometimes challenging Nato process”.

On Facebook, Mr Kristersson said that Mr Billstrom had discharged his duties with “flying colours”.

Mr Billstrom said on X that he would “leave politics completely. This means that I am also leaving my seat in the Riksdag”, the Swedish parliament. The 349-member assembly will convene next week after the summer recess.

Mr Billstrom has not announced what he will do next and his replacement has not yet been named.