Sweden Appoints Andreas von Beckerath to Lead New Foreign Intelligence Service

Sweden is establishing a new foreign intelligence service, appointing Ambassador Andreas von Beckerath to lead the institution as its Director-General. Anika Brandström will serve as Deputy Director-General. Both are set to assume their new responsibilities on January 1, 2027, with their appointments valid until December 31, 2032.

Von Beckerath currently serves as the EU Ambassador in Belgrade. His prior diplomatic experience includes roles as ambassador in Warsaw and Kyiv. He has also headed the Swedish Foreign Ministry's department for Eastern Europe and Central Asia and held positions in various Swedish diplomatic missions abroad.

"Both have extensive experience in foreign and security policy and are very well trained to build new organizations and develop their operations in a way that strengthens Swedish intelligence capacity, both short-term and long-term," stated Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard. The new service is slated to commence operations on January 1, 2027.

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Both have extensive experience in foreign and security policy and are very well trained to build new organizations and develop their operations in a way that strengthens Swedish intelligence capacity, both short-term and long-term.