Co-chair of ECFR’s Council
Former Prime Minister and Former Foreign Minister of Sweden
Carl Bildt served as both prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden. Under his leadership, the government initiated major liberal economic reforms and negotiated Sweden’s accession to the EU. Previously, he served as EU special envoy to the former Yugoslavia, high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, UN special envoy to the Balkans, and co-chair of the Dayton Peace Conference. He also chaired the Global Commission on Internet Governance. In 2021, he was appointed WHO special envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator.
To brace for a “Long War”, Europe needs to be ready to take its lessons learned from more than half a year of the war to heart and deliver enduring support to Ukraine
What can Sweden and Finland offer NATO? And are they worried about the Kremlin’s threats to attack their countries?
In this age of danger, we will need a strong EU and a strong NATO
Nothing was inevitable about the Taliban reconquering of Afghanistan. But in the end the US lost what minimal strategic patience it had.
This event is the second webinar in a two-part series on current developments in the global use of economic coercion
Only a firm framework of integration can bring long-term stability to the Balkans – this is as relevant today as it was in 2003, when EU leaders offered membership to all countries in the region
The bloc should reframe how it speaks of human rights and democracy, while developing closer security and military links with select neighbours
The Biden administration’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance reflects an evolution in US strategic thinking and policy priorities
It will be difficult to sustain progress for Bosnia or the region without a credible and clear EU accession process
While many Western observers have seized on Ukraine's 2004-5 and 2014 revolutions to understand the mass protests in Belarus, a much better analogy is Armenia's democratic transition in 2018.
The bloc should reframe how it speaks of human rights and democracy, while developing closer security and military links with select neighbours
The Biden administration’s Interim National Security Strategic Guidance reflects an evolution in US strategic thinking and policy priorities
It will be difficult to sustain progress for Bosnia or the region without a credible and clear EU accession process
Introduction The last five years have not been kind to the European Union’s foreign policy. The EU has been less relevant, less active, and less…
Two decades after the end of the Bosnian war Carl Bildt considers the successes and failures of Dayton
In this age of danger, we will need a strong EU and a strong NATO
Nothing was inevitable about the Taliban reconquering of Afghanistan. But in the end the US lost what minimal strategic patience it had.
Only a firm framework of integration can bring long-term stability to the Balkans – this is as relevant today as it was in 2003, when EU leaders offered membership to all countries in the region
While many Western observers have seized on Ukraine's 2004-5 and 2014 revolutions to understand the mass protests in Belarus, a much better analogy is Armenia's democratic transition in 2018.
The relationship between the EU and India has vast potential in areas ranging from multilateral institutions to global health
The indictment for war crimes against Kosovo President Hassim Thaci helpfully upends the poorly conceived US initiative to reconcile Serbia and Kosovo. But it fatally delegitimates Kosovo’s current leadership.
An unpredictable US, rising China and revanchist Russia pose serious strategic challenges
There’s plenty Europe should do to push back against Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine
The end of the first world war with its history, remembrance, and challenges | Speech by Carl Bildt
The war in Donbas is Europe's worst active conflict – a referendum would not help
What can Sweden and Finland offer NATO? And are they worried about the Kremlin’s threats to attack their countries?
To brace for a “Long War”, Europe needs to be ready to take its lessons learned from more than half a year of the war to heart and deliver enduring support to Ukraine
This event is the second webinar in a two-part series on current developments in the global use of economic coercion
We are witnessing the emergence of an axis of outcasts: countries united in their willingness to violate international law by starting wars, developing nuclear weapons, and violating sanctions
Carl Bildt writes about the challenges that an axis between Russia, Iran and North Korea poses to the global order
The history of the Russia is really taking a tragic turn. Tens of millions of Russian were killed by this brutal dictator, including many thousands of priests.
Carl Bildt comments on Putin´s rehabilitation of Stalin
Defence of [the Nordic and Baltic] region is so much easier if you can co-ordinate efforts, plans and command. You can achieve much greater deterrence if you combine efforts.
Carl Bildt outlines the effects of Sweden joining NATO after Turkey dropped its objections
This opens to a period of uncertainty about Italian foreign policy and economy that represents a source of concern for European governments
Carl Bildt comments on the European reaction to the fall of Draghi’s government
Biden must seriously consider the costs of his passivity vis-a-vis Iran and find a way forward — or we may find ourselves in another conflict that no one asked for
ECFR Board Members Carl Bildt and Javier Solana remind that we should not forget about Iran and its expanding nuclear program
