Sweden appoints Maria Malmer Stenergard as foreign minister

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson named Maria Malmer Stenergard as new foreign minister on Tuesday, replacing Tobias Billstrom who announced last week that he would step down, Report informs via Reuters.

Stenergard, 43, is a member of Kristersson's ruling conservative Moderate Party and comes from the job of migration minister.

The new minister faces important diplomatic tasks in upholding Sweden's support for Ukraine and playing a part in improving the security situation in the Middle East, Billstrom said in his September 4 letter announcing he would step down.

His resignation after less than two years on the job came as a surprise just six months after he helped secure traditionally non-aligned Sweden's accession to the NATO military alliance.

The 50-year-old said he had considered for some time to step down, and that he would now leave politics.