List of ambassadors of Sweden to Finland

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

Ambassador of
Sweden to Finland
Lesser coat of arms of the Kingdom of Sweden
Incumbent
Peter Ericson
since 2024
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Swedish Embassy, Helsinki
StyleHis or Her Excellency (formal)
Mr. or Madam Ambassador (informal)
Reports toMinister for Foreign Affairs
ResidencePohjoisesplanadi 7 B[a]
SeatHelsinki, Finland
AppointerGovernment of Sweden
Term lengthNo fixed term
Inaugural holderWalter Ahlström
FormationJanuary 1918
WebsiteSwedish Embassy, Helsinki

The Ambassador of Sweden to Finland (known formally as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Finland) is the official representative of the government of Sweden to the president of Finland and government of Finland.

History

[edit]

Finland declared itself an independent state on 6 December 1917. On 4 January 1918, the King, with the unanimous support of the government ministers, decided in council to recognize Finland as an independent and sovereign state.[2] A few days later, the consul general in Helsinki, Walter Ahlström [sv; fr; fi], was appointed to temporarily represent Sweden in Finland in the capacity of chargé d'affaires. Ahlström immediately assumed his duties as chargé d'affaires, while at the same time continuing to hold his position as consul general.[3]

Sweden's first minister in Finland was Gustaf Westman [sv], who was appointed by the King in Council on 17 March 1918 as a minister en mission spéciale to the Finnish government in Vaasa.[4] In April of the same year, Westman presented his credentials to the Chairman of the Senate of Finland Pehr Evind Svinhufvud.[5]

In September 1954, an agreement was reached between the Swedish and Finish governments on the mutual elevation of the respective countries' legations to embassies. The diplomatic rank was thereafter changed to ambassador instead of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary.[6]

List of representatives

[edit]
Name Period Title Notes Presented credentials Ref
Walter Ahlström January 1918 – 1918 Chargé d'affaires [7]
Gustaf Westman 17 March 1918 – 1918 Minister en mission spéciale To the Vaasa Senate. 10 April 1918 to Chairman of the Senate of Finland Pehr Evind Svinhufvud. [4][8][9]
Gustaf Westman 1918–1921 Envoy [8]
Carl Leijonhufvud 1919–1919 Chargé d'affaires ad interim During different times of the year 1919. [10]
Claes Vilhelm Benjamin Grill Tersmeden 31 March 1920 – 28 April 1920 Chargé d'affaires ad interim [11]
Claes Vilhelm Benjamin Grill Tersmeden 17 June 1920 – 22 November 1920 Chargé d'affaires ad interim [11]
Johan Hultman 1920–1921 Chargé d'affaires [12]
Gustaf Henning Elmquist 16 December 1921 – 26 September 1925 Envoy 9 January 1922 to President Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg. [13][14]
Carl Hamilton 26 September 1925 – 1931 Envoy [15]
Carl von Heidenstam 27 August 1931 – 11 March 1939 Envoy Died in office. [16]
Stig Sahlin March 1939 – March 1941 Envoy [17]
Karl Ivan Westman 1941–1942 Envoy [18]
Hans Beck-Friis 1942–1947 Envoy [19]
Otto Johansson 1947–1951 Envoy [20]
Gösta Engzell 1951–1954 Envoy [21]
Gösta Engzell 1954–1963 Ambassador [21]
Ingemar Hägglöf 1964–1971 Ambassador [22]
Göran Ryding 1971–1975 Ambassador [23]
Sten Sundfeldt 1975–1980 Ambassador 29 August 1975 to President Urho Kekkonen. [24][25]
Kaj Sundberg 1980–1984 Ambassador [26]
Knut Thyberg 1984–1992 Ambassador [27]
Mats Bergquist 1992–1997 Ambassador [28]
Kerstin Asp Johnsson 1997–2001 Ambassador [29]
Ulf Hjertonsson 2001–2005 Ambassador [30]
Eva Walder Brundin March 2006 – March 2009 Ambassador [31]
Johan Molander 2009 – 20 December 2011 Ambassador [32]
Örjan Berner 2 January 2012 – 2012 Acting chief [32]
Anders Lidén 2012–2016 Ambassador [33]
Anders Ahnlid November 2016 – 2020 Ambassador 1 December 2016 to President Sauli Niinistö. [34][35]
Nicola Clase October 2020 – 2024 Ambassador 22 October 2020 to President Sauli Niinistö. [36][37]
Peter Ericson 2024–present Ambassador 3 September 2024 to President Alexander Stubb. [38][39]

See also

[edit]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ The ambassador's residence is at the same location as the chancery.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sveriges ambassad i Helsingfors, Finland" [Swedish embassy in Helsinki, Finland] (in Swedish). National Property Board of Sweden. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Sverige erkänner Finland som självständig stat" [Sweden recognizes Finland as an independent state]. Söderhamns Tidning (in Swedish). 7 January 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Generalkonsul Ahlström chargé d'affaires" [Consul General Ahlström chargé d'affaires]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). No. 7. 9 January 1918. p. 9. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Sverige får diplomatisk representant hos regeringen i Vasa" [Sweden gets a diplomatic representative with the government in Vaasa]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 18 March 1918. p. 3. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  5. ^ "När minister Westman överlämnade sina kreditivbrev" [When Minister Westman presented his credentials]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). No. 95. 11 April 1918. p. 7. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Helsingforslegationen upphöjd till ambassad" [The Helsinki legation elevated to an embassy]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 23 September 1954. p. 4A. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  7. ^ Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1933 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1933] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. 1932. p. 15.
  8. ^ a b Lindblad, Göran, ed. (1924). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1925 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1925] (in Swedish). Stockholm: P. A. Norstedt & Söners. p. 807. SELIBR 6gnl7s754g5f6x82.
  9. ^ "När minister Westman överlämnade sitt kreditiv" [When Minister Westman presented his credentials]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). No. 95. 11 April 1918. p. 7. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  10. ^ Elgenstierna, Gustaf, ed. (1928). Den introducerade svenska adelns ättartavlor (in Swedish). Vol. 4 Igelström-Lillietopp. Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 567. SELIBR 10076751.
  11. ^ a b Elgenstierna, Gustaf, ed. (1934). Den introducerade svenska adelns ättartavlor (in Swedish). Vol. 8 Stålarm-Voltemat. Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 234. SELIBR 10076764.
  12. ^ Svensson, Stina, ed. (1953). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1953 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1953] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 488. SELIBR 9649164.
  13. ^ Molin, A. (1950). "Gustaf Henning Elmquist". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 13. National Archives of Sweden. p. 395. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Minister Elmquist". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). No. 8. 10 January 1922. p. 6. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  15. ^ Elgenstierna, Gustaf, ed. (1927). Den introducerade svenska adelns ättartavlor (in Swedish). Vol. 3 Gadde-Höökenberg. Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 457. SELIBR 10076750.
  16. ^ Wahlbäck, Krister (1969–1971). "Carl G Heidenstam, von". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 18. National Archives of Sweden. p. 536. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  17. ^ Carlsson, Carl Henrik; Tjerneld, Andreas (2000–2002). "Sahlin, släkt". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). Vol. 31. National Archives of Sweden. p. 247. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  18. ^ Lagerström, Sten, ed. (1968). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1969 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1969] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 1019. SELIBR 3681519.
  19. ^ Lagerström, Sten, ed. (1968). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1969 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1969] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 61. SELIBR 3681519.
  20. ^ Burling, Ingeborg, ed. (1956). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1957 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1957] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 484.
  21. ^ a b Uddling, Hans; Paabo, Katrin, eds. (1994). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1995 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1995] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 30. ISBN 91-1-943202-X. SELIBR 8261514.
  22. ^ Uddling, Hans; Paabo, Katrin, eds. (1994). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1995 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1995] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 525. ISBN 91-1-943202-X. SELIBR 8261514.
  23. ^ Uddling, Hans; Paabo, Katrin, eds. (1994). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1995 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1995] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 955. ISBN 91-1-943202-X. SELIBR 8261514.
  24. ^ Uddling, Hans; Paabo, Katrin, eds. (1994). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1995 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1995] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 1056. ISBN 91-1-943202-X. SELIBR 8261514.
  25. ^ "Ambassadör med problem" [Ambassador with problem]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 1 September 1975. p. 30. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  26. ^ Uddling, Hans; Paabo, Katrin, eds. (1994). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1995 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1995] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 1052. ISBN 91-1-943202-X. SELIBR 8261514.
  27. ^ Uddling, Hans; Paabo, Katrin, eds. (1994). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 1995 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 1995] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 1107. ISBN 91-1-943202-X. SELIBR 8261514.
  28. ^ Jönsson, Lena, ed. (2000). Vem är det: svensk biografisk handbok. 2001 [Who is it: Swedish biographical handbook. 2001] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 117. ISBN 9172850426. SELIBR 8261515.
  29. ^ Spiegelberg, Christina, ed. (2001). Sveriges statskalender 2001 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes. p. 177. ISBN 9138318385. SELIBR 8261601.
  30. ^ Spiegelberg, Christina, ed. (2005). Sveriges statskalender 2005 (PDF) (in Swedish). Stockholm: Fritzes. p. 174. ISBN 9138321971. SELIBR 9879458.
  31. ^ Holmström, Malena (11 November 2008). "Alltid bra att återvända hem" [Always good to return home]. Kyrkpressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  32. ^ a b "Ambassadör Örjan Berner ny chef för ambassaden" [Ambassador Örjan Berner new head of the embassy] (in Swedish). Embassy of Sweden, Helsinki. 2 January 2012. Archived from the original on 7 December 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  33. ^ "Ny ambassadör i Finland" [New ambassador in Finland] (Press release) (in Swedish). Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 10 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  34. ^ "Ny ambassadör i Finland" [New ambassador in Finland] (Press release) (in Swedish). Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  35. ^ Dahlbäck, Nina (17 March 2017). "Sveriges ambassadör i Vasa" [Ambassador of Sweden in Vaasa]. Vasabladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  36. ^ "Ny ambassadör i Finland" [New ambassador in Finland] (Press release) (in Swedish). Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  37. ^ "Nicola Clase tillträder sin tjänst som Sveriges ambassadör i Finland" [Nicola Clase takes up her post as Sweden's ambassador to Finland] (in Swedish). Embassy of Sweden, Helsinki. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  38. ^ "Ny ambassadör i Finland" [New ambassador in Finland] (Press release) (in Swedish). Ministry for Foreign Affairs. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  39. ^ "Peter Ericson Sveriges nye ambassadör i Finland" [Peter Ericson Sweden's new ambassador to Finland] (in Swedish). Embassy of Sweden, Helsinki. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
[edit]