Ann Linde

Throughout the 1990s, Linde worked in government offices, including as the Ministry Secretary of Civil Affairs and the political advisor of the EU and Trade Minister Mats Hellström of Foreign Affairs and of Defense Minister Björn von Sydow on Ministry of Defence.[https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/09/swedish-trade-minister-ann-linde-to-become-new-foreign-minister-tv Swedish trade minister Ann Linde to become new Foreign minister] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230034157/https://www.euronews.com/2019/09/09/swedish-trade-minister-ann-linde-to-become-new-foreign-minister-tv |date=30 December 2019 }} Euronews Retrieved 11 September 2019

Linde worked as international secretary at the Social Democratic Party in Sweden from 2000 to 2013. From 2013 to 2014, she was the head of the International Department of the European Socialist Party (PES) in Brussels, an umbrella organization for all social-democratic parties in the EU.

From 2014 until 2016, Linde served as State Secretary for the Ministry of Justice{{cite web|url=http://vlt.se/nyheter/omvarlden/1.3906995-statssekreterare-blir-eu-minister|title=Statssekreterare blir EU-minister|work=VLT|accessdate=28 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529002550/http://vlt.se/nyheter/omvarlden/1.3906995-statssekreterare-blir-eu-minister|archive-date=29 May 2016|url-status=dead}} In this capacity, she worked with Interior Minister Anders Ygeman.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

File:Außenminister Alexander Schallenberg empfängt die schwedische Außenministerin Ann Linde 31.08.2021 02.jpg on 31 August 2021]]

File:Υποδοχή ΥΠΕΞ Δένδια από ΥΠΕΞ Σουηδίας και Προεδρεύουσα Συμβουλίου Υπουργών ΟΑΣΕ, A.Linde (02.12.2021) (51719294633).jpg on 2 December 2021]]

File:Secretary Blinken Meets with Swedish Foreign Minister Linde (52049038672).jpg in May 2022]]

Linde was appointed minister for foreign affairs following Margot Wallström's resignation on 10 September 2019.

Under Linde's leadership, Sweden's government decided in March 2020 to send a rapid reaction force of up to 150 troops and helicopters to Mali to join French-led Takuba task force in fighting militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in the Sahel region of North Africa.Simon Johnson (16 March 2020), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sweden-mali/sweden-says-to-send-up-to-150-special-forces-troops-to-mali-idUSKBN21319H Sweden says to send up to 150 special forces troops to Mali] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430071850/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sweden-mali/sweden-says-to-send-up-to-150-special-forces-troops-to-mali-idUSKBN21319H |date=30 April 2020 }} Reuters Retrieved 22 May 2020. By early 2022, Linde announced that Sweden would withdraw troops from a European special forces mission to the Sahel region and will review its participation in the Takuba task force over the presence of private Russian military contractors.Ardee Napolitano and John Irish (14 January 2022), [https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/sweden-withdraw-french-led-special-forces-mission-mali-minister-2022-01-14/ Sweden to withdraw from French-led special forces mission in Mali] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116053915/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/sweden-withdraw-french-led-special-forces-mission-mali-minister-2022-01-14/ |date=16 January 2022 }} Reuters.

When Sweden took over the rotating Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2021, Linde became the organization's Chairperson-in-Office.Francois Murphy (28 August 2020), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-belarus-election-osce/osce-chairman-renews-offer-to-facilitate-dialogue-in-belarus-idUSKBN25O1NB OSCE chairman renews offer to facilitate dialogue in Belarus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828213543/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-belarus-election-osce/osce-chairman-renews-offer-to-facilitate-dialogue-in-belarus-idUSKBN25O1NB |date=28 August 2020 }} Reuters.[https://www.osce.org/chairmanship/474992 Sweden takes over OSCE Chair] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101111702/https://www.osce.org/chairmanship/474992 |date=1 January 2021 }} Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), press release of 1 January 2021.

{{See also|Sweden–NATO relations}}

On 1 May 2022, she expressed that it was "almost certain" that Finland would join NATO.{{cite news | url= https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/verden/2022/05/01/195843016/sveriges-utenriksminister-tror-finland-kommer-til-a-bli-med-i-nato | title= Sveriges utenriksminister tror Finland kommer til å bli med i NATO | publisher= ABC Nyheter | date= 1 May 2022 | access-date= 2 May 2022 | language= Norwegian | archive-date= 1 May 2022 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220501224715/https://www.abcnyheter.no/nyheter/verden/2022/05/01/195843016/sveriges-utenriksminister-tror-finland-kommer-til-a-bli-med-i-nato | url-status= live }} While most current NATO members responded positively to the application, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan voiced his opposition, accusing both Sweden and Finland of tolerating Kurdish militant groups PKK, PYD and the YPG, which Turkey classifies as terrorist organizations,{{cite news |date=13 May 2022 |title=Erdogan says Turkey not supportive of Finland, Sweden joining NATO |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/erdogan-says-turkey-not-positive-finland-sweden-joining-nato-2022-05-13/ |access-date=15 June 2022 |archive-date=13 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513152702/https://www.reuters.com/world/erdogan-says-turkey-not-positive-finland-sweden-joining-nato-2022-05-13/ |url-status=live }} and followers of Fethullah Gülen, whom Turkey accuses of orchestrating a failed 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt.{{cite news |title=Erdogan says Swedish, Finnish delegations should not bother coming to Turkey |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/erdogan-says-swedish-finnish-delegations-should-not-bother-coming-turkey-2022-05-16/ |work=Reuters |date=16 May 2022 |access-date=15 June 2022 |archive-date=15 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220615224052/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/erdogan-says-swedish-finnish-delegations-should-not-bother-coming-turkey-2022-05-16/ |url-status=live }} On 20 May, Linde pushed back against Erdoğan's claim they support PKK, calling it "disinformation", and pointing out Sweden listed PKK as a terrorist organization in 1984, while the EU followed suit in 2002.{{Cite web |date=20 May 2022 |title=Sweden blasts Turkish 'disinformation' as Erdoğan delays NATO accession |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-turkey-nato-erdogan-disinformation/ |website=Politico |access-date=15 June 2022 |archive-date=24 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524190816/https://www.politico.eu/article/sweden-turkey-nato-erdogan-disinformation/ |url-status=live }}

On 29 July, Linde announced that the ministry of foreign affairs would call in the Russian ambassador to explain himself in the wake of him mocking a Swedish volunteer soldier who died in a grenade attack in the Donbas region in Ukraine. She called his words "reprehensible and tasteless", with her full statement saying: "The text his reprehensible and tasteless. The ambassador doesn't mention at all that it was Russia who started the war, but only Russia can stop it".{{cite web | url = https://www.dn.se/sverige/partier-vill-kalla-ryska-ambassadoren-till-ud-linde-sager-nej/ | title = UD ska kalla upp representant för ryska ambassaden: "Kommande vecka" | publisher = Dagens Nyheter | date = 29 July 2022 | access-date = 30 July 2022 | language = Swedish | archive-date = 29 July 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220729191116/https://www.dn.se/sverige/partier-vill-kalla-ryska-ambassadoren-till-ud-linde-sager-nej/ | url-status = live }}

When a parliamentary majority in favour of Sweden expressing the option of joining NATO emerged in 2020, Linde rejected such plans and reiterated her conviction that the country was best served by independence from alliances.Anna Ringstrom (9 December 2020), [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN28J1UL Majority in Swedish parliament backs 'NATO option' after Sweden Democrats shift] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526110708/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN28J1UL |date=26 May 2022 }} Reuters.

Linde attracted criticism for wearing a headscarf during a visit by a government delegation to Tehran in 2017 when she met president Hassan Rouhani.{{Cite news|date=2017-02-13|title=Sweden defends officials wearing headscarves in Iran|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38956212|access-date=2020-11-19|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805112621/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38956212|url-status=live}}

Being State Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, Linde was one of the first politicians in the Government Offices who received information from the Security Department that there was a potential leak of sensitive information from the Transport Agency. The agency had outsourced parts of its IT services, including a data base with information about holders of driving licences, as well as about the Swedish road infrastructure.{{cite news |title=Roger Haddad: Ann Linde kände till Transportstyrelsens IT-brister 2015 |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/roger-haddad-ann-linde-kande-till-transportstyrelsens-it-brister-2015 |work=SVT Nyheter |agency=Sveriges Television |date=8 August 2017 |access-date=2 October 2021 |archive-date=2 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002110039/https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/roger-haddad-ann-linde-kande-till-transportstyrelsens-it-brister-2015 |url-status=live }}

As Minister of Foreign Trade, Linde took part in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Linde's participation was criticized by Iranian community organizations in Sweden, who argued that Linde's participation in the celebration was an insult to all Iranians living in Sweden who had to flee the Islamic regime.{{Cite web|date=2019-02-16|title=Ann Lindes deltagande i firande av den "Islamiska" revolutionen är ett hån mot iranier|url=https://www.fffi.se/2019/02/16/ann-lindes-deltagande-i-firande-av-den-islamiska-revolutionen-ar-ett-han-mot-iranier/|access-date=2020-09-05|website=FFFI|language=sv-SE|archive-date=12 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212005654/https://www.fffi.se/2019/02/16/ann-lindes-deltagande-i-firande-av-den-islamiska-revolutionen-ar-ett-han-mot-iranier/|url-status=live}}

• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), Member[http://www.ecfr.eu/council/members Members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502151016/https://www.ecfr.eu/council/members |date=2 May 2020 }} European Council on Foreign Relations.
• Anna Lindh Memorial Fund, Member of the Board of Directors (since 2016)[http://www.annalindhsminnesfond.se/about-us/board-of-directors/ Board of Directors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516152214/http://www.annalindhsminnesfond.se/about-us/board-of-directors/ |date=16 May 2021 }} Anna Lindh Memorial Fund.
• Olof Palme International Center, Member of the Board (2001–2013)[https://www.government.se/government-of-sweden/ministry-for-foreign-affairs/ann-linde/cv-ann-linde/ Official CV of Ann Linde] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122185847/https://www.government.se/government-of-sweden/ministry-for-foreign-affairs/ann-linde/cv-ann-linde/ |date=22 January 2021 }} Government of Sweden.
• Joint Committee of the Nordic Social Democratic Labour Movement (SAMAK), Member of the Working Group on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2001–2013)

• 2011 – "Friend of Palestine of the Year", awarded by a Palestinian community organization in Sweden (Palestinska föreningen){{Cite news|date=2011-11-22|title=Prisad Palestinavän|url=https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/prisad-palestinavan/|access-date=2020-09-05|newspaper=Dagens Nyheter|language=sv|archive-date=30 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230034152/https://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/prisad-palestinavan/|url-status=live}}

• {{flag|Finland}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland (17 May 2022){{cite web|url=https://editorial01.shutterstock.com/wm-preview-1500/12943265bk/56e4dc91/Shutterstock_12943265bk.jpg|title=Foreign Minister Ann Linde wearing the Order of the Lion of Finland during the banquet in honour of the President of Finland at Stockholm in May 2022.|date=17 May 2022|access-date=18 October 2022|website=Shutterstock|archive-date=18 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018171959/https://editorial01.shutterstock.com/wm-preview-1500/12943265bk/56e4dc91/Shutterstock_12943265bk.jpg|url-status=live}}
• {{flag|Spain}}: Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (16 November 2021){{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2021/11/17/pdfs/BOE-A-2021-18860.pdf|title=Royal Decree 1012/2021|access-date=27 November 2021|archive-date=17 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117075232/https://boe.es/boe/dias/2021/11/17/pdfs/BOE-A-2021-18860.pdf|url-status=live}}

Since 1989, Linde has been married to Mats Eriksson.{{cite web|url=http://www.folkbladet.se/nyheter/hon-blir-arets-1a-majtalare-i-finspang-2811606.aspx|title=The 1st Politician of the Year|accessdate=30 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807235823/http://www.folkbladet.se/nyheter/hon-blir-arets-1a-majtalare-i-finspang-2811606.aspx|archive-date=7 August 2017|url-status=dead}} She has two children.

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{{Commons category-inline|Ann Linde}}

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{{s-vac|last=Birgitta Ohlsson}}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister for European Union Affairs|years=2016–2019}}

{{s-aft|after=Hans Dahlgren}}

{{s-bef|before=Mikael Damberg}}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister of Foreign Trade|years=2016–2019}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Nordic Cooperation|years=2019}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Foreign Affairs|years=2019–2022}}

{{s-aft|after=Tobias Billström}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Linde, Ann}}

Category:1961 births

Category:Living people

Category:Female foreign ministers

Category:Swedish Social Democratic Party politicians

Category:Ministers for foreign affairs of Sweden

Category:Ministers for trade of Sweden

Category:Women government ministers of Sweden

Category:Ministers for Nordic cooperation of Sweden

Category:21st-century Swedish diplomats

Category:People from Helsingborg