Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations

Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations
Incumbent
Nicola Clase
since 2024
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations
StyleHis or Her Excellency (formal)
Mr. or Madam Ambassador (informal)
Reports toMinister for Foreign Affairs
SeatUnited Nations Headquarters
New York City, New York, USA
AppointerGovernment of Sweden
Term lengthNo fixed term
Formation1947
First holderHerman Eriksson
DeputyDeputy Permanent Representative
Websitewww.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/un-new-york/

The Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations is head of the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations in New York City, United States.

History

In 1947, Sweden appointed its first permanent representative to the United Nations, Herman Eriksson [sv], who had been the Swedish minister in Washington, D.C. for the previous two years. For long periods, Eriksson served as the sole Swedish delegate during the negotiations. When he later fell ill and required a lengthy period of convalescence, the Swedish government appointed him to the less demanding post of Swedish ambassador in Copenhagen.[1] The UN position was then taken over by Ambassador Gunnar Hägglöf, who was appointed in August 1947.[2]

Olof Rydbeck was appointed permanent representative in 1972. His first major task as UN ambassador was to help complete the preparations for the first United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held in Stockholm in 1972. He strongly advocated for China's participation, a goal that was successfully realized when China was admitted to the UN around the same time. Rydbeck actively supported Sweden's positive stance on this sensitive issue.[3] Another major and controversial topic during his tenure was South Africa's apartheid policy, where his views were met with respect.[3] His talent for achieving compromise proved valuable when, in 1976, he became chairman of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) of General Assembly, which was marked by sharp divisions between industrialized and developing countries. The highlight of Rydbeck's time as head of the Swedish UN delegation came when Sweden gained a seat on the Security Council in 1975–76. He contributed to reforms in the Council's working procedures, and Sweden's decisive "yes" vote on the question of granting the PLO the right to speak before the Council had significant political impact.[3]

List of permanent representatives

No. Portrait Ambassador Took office Left office Time in office Prime Minister Ref.
1
Herman Eriksson [sv]
Eriksson, HermanHerman Eriksson [sv]
(1892–1949)
17 January 194725 August 1947220 daysTage Erlander[1]
2
Gunnar Hägglöf
Hägglöf, GunnarGunnar Hägglöf
(1904–1994)
194719480–1 yearsTage Erlander[4]
3
Sven Grafström [sv]
Grafström, SvenSven Grafström [sv]
(1902–1955)
26 August 194819523–4 yearsTage Erlander[5]
4
Oscar Thorsing [sv]
Thorsing, OscarOscar Thorsing [sv]
(1896–1967)
195219563–4 yearsTage Erlander[6]
5
Gunnar Jarring
Jarring, GunnarGunnar Jarring
(1907–2002)
195619581–2 yearsTage Erlander[7]
6
Agda Rössel
Rössel, AgdaAgda Rössel
(1910–2001)
195819645–6 yearsTage Erlander[8]
7
Sverker Åström
Åström, SverkerSverker Åström
(1915–2012)
196419705–6 yearsTage Erlander
Olof Palme
[9]
-
Olof Rydbeck
Rydbeck, OlofOlof Rydbeck
(1913–1995)
Acting
10 September 197030 September 19722 years, 20 daysOlof Palme[3]
8
Olof Rydbeck
Rydbeck, OlofOlof Rydbeck
(1913–1995)
1 October 197219763–4 yearsOlof Palme[3]
9
Anders Thunborg
Thunborg, AndersAnders Thunborg
(1934–2004)
197719835–6 yearsThorbjörn Fälldin
Ola Ullsten
Thorbjörn Fälldin
Olof Palme
[10]
10
Anders Ferm
Anders, OlofAnders Ferm
(1938–2019)
198319884–5 yearsOlof Palme
Ingvar Carlsson
[11]
11
Jan Eliasson
Eliasson, JanJan Eliasson
(born 1940)
198819923–4 yearsIngvar Carlsson
Carl Bildt
[12]
12
Peter Osvald [sv]
Osvald, PeterPeter Osvald [sv]
(born 1939)
199219974–5 yearsCarl Bildt
Ingvar Carlsson
Göran Persson
[13]
13
Hans Dahlgren
Dahlgren, HansHans Dahlgren
(born 1948)
199720002–3 yearsGöran Persson[14]
14
Pierre Schori
Schori, PierrePierre Schori
(born 1938)
200020043–4 yearsGöran Persson-
15
Anders Lidén
Lidén, AndersAnders Lidén
(born 1949)
200420105–6 yearsGöran Persson
Fredrik Reinfeldt
[15]
16
Mårten Grunditz [sv]
Grunditz, MårtenMårten Grunditz [sv]
(1949–2015)
201020154–5 yearsFredrik Reinfeldt
Stefan Löfven
-
17
Olof Skoog
Skoog, OlofOlof Skoog
(born 1962)
201520193–4 yearsStefan Löfven[16]
18
Anna Karin Eneström
Eneström, Anna KarinAnna Karin Eneström
(born 1961)
December 201930 September 20244–5 yearsStefan Löfven
Magdalena Andersson
Ulf Kristersson
[17][18]
19
Nicola Clase [sv; no]
Clase, NicolaNicola Clase [sv; no]
(born 1965)
2024IncumbentUlf Kristersson[19]

List of deputy permanent representatives

Portrait Name Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
Sten Strömholm
Strömholm, StenAmbassador
Sten Strömholm
(1930–1997)
198519893–4 years[20][21]
Lars-Göran Engfeldt
Engfeldt, Lars-GöranAmbassador
Lars-Göran Engfeldt
(1944–2025)
198919933–4 years[22]
Henrik Salander [sv]
Salander, HenrikAmbassador[a]
Henrik Salander [sv]
(born 1945)
199319984–5 years[24]
Per Norström
Norström, PerAmbassador
Per Norström
(born 1947)
199820012–3 years[25]
Inga Eriksson Fogh [sv; pl; uk]
Eriksson Fogh, IngaAmbassador
Inga Eriksson Fogh [sv; pl; uk]
(born 1950)
200120042–3 years[26]
Ulla Ström
Ström, UllaAmbassador
Ulla Ström
(born 1942)
200420083–4 years[27]
Per Örneus
Örnéus, PerMinister
Per Örneus
(born 1962)
200820101–2 years[15]
Signe Burgstaller
Burgstaller, SigneAmbassador
Signe Burgstaller
(born 1965)
September 201020143–4 years[28]
Per Thöresson [sv; de]
Thöresson, PerAmbassador
Per Thöresson [sv; de]
(born 1962)
201420161–2 years[29]
Carl Skau
Skau, CarlAmbassador
Carl Skau
(born 1977)
September 2016December 20181–2 years[30]
Anna Karin Eneström
Eneström, Anna KarinAmbassador
Anna Karin Eneström
(born 1961)
2019December 2019[17]
Magnus Lennartsson
Lennartsson, MagnusAmbassador
Magnus Lennartsson
(born 1961)
March 2020September 20232–3 years[31][32]
Andreas von Uexküll
Uexküll, Andreas vonAmbassador
Andreas von Uexküll
(born 1971)
2023Incumbent[33]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Minister 1993–1995 and ambassador from 1995.[23].

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b Hemming 1953, p. 410
  2. ^ "Gunnar Hägglöf ständigt ombud i Förenta nationerna" [Gunnar Hägglöf Permanent Representative to the United Nations]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 26 August 1947. p. 4A. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e Elgemyr 2000–2002, p. 19
  4. ^ Uddling & Paabo 1992, p. 523.
  5. ^ Boheman 1967–1969, p. 209
  6. ^ Lagerström 1966, p. 917
  7. ^ Uddling & Paabo 1992, p. 548.
  8. ^ Uddling & Paabo 1992, p. 954.
  9. ^ Uddling & Paabo 1992, p. 1234.
  10. ^ Salander Mortensen 1996, p. 1119.
  11. ^ Jönsson 2000, p. 333.
  12. ^ Jönsson 2000, p. 287.
  13. ^ Jönsson 2000, p. 888.
  14. ^ Jönsson 2000, p. 225.
  15. ^ a b Sveriges statskalender 2010 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedts Juridik AB/Fritzes. 2010. p. 203. ISBN 978-91-38-32520-9. SELIBR 11846164.
  16. ^ "Olof Skoog blir EU:s nya ambassadör till FN" [Olof Skoog becomes the EU's new ambassador to the UN] (in Swedish). Swedish UN Association. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Ny FN-ambassadör" [New UN Ambassador] (PDF) (Press release) (in Swedish). Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 5 December 2019. p. 517. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  18. ^ "Today our dear UN Ambassador Anna Karin Eneström is ending her term". Sweden at the United Nations. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2025 – via Instagram.
  19. ^ "Ny FN-ambassadör" [New UN Ambassador] (Press release) (in Swedish). Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  20. ^ Spiegelberg 1989, p. 383
  21. ^ Salander Mortensen 1996, p. 1061.
  22. ^ Almqvist 1993, p. 364
  23. ^ Jönsson 2000, p. 988.
  24. ^ Spiegelberg 1998, p. 197
  25. ^ Spiegelberg 2001, p. 197
  26. ^ Spiegelberg 2004, p. 193
  27. ^ Henriksson 2008, p. 203
  28. ^ "Book Talk: HAMMARSKJÖLD : A Life". United Nations Association of New York (UNA-NYC). April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2025. Ambassador Signe Burgstaller has been the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations since September 2010.
  29. ^ Skyllborg, Charlotte (26 April 2014). "Toppdiplomat får nytt prestigeuppdrag" [Top diplomat gets new prestigious assignment]. Bohusläningen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  30. ^ "Carl Skau". LinkedIn. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  31. ^ "MAGNUS LENNARTSSON: SWEDEN'S CANDIDATE FOR THE ACABQ 2021–2023" (PDF). www.swedenabroad.se. 2020. p. 2. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  32. ^ "Magnus Lennartsson". LinkedIn. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  33. ^ "Our Staff". Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 18 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2025.

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