Swedish National Security Advisor Resigns Following Inappropriate Revelation
Quick Resignation After Appointment
Tobias Tiberg, newly appointed National Security Advisor of Sweden, has resigned less than 24 hours after his appointment due to the emergence of sensitive images linked to an old profile on the dating app Grindr. The information surfaced shortly after the government officially announced his appointment on Thursday.
Details of the Incident
Johan Stewart, the Secretary of State for Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, stated in an announcement to POLITICO that personal information about Tiberg had become known to the government that was not previously disclosed during the recruitment process. Tiberg acknowledged his failure to fully disclose this personal information during vetting, which ultimately led to his decision to step down from the role.
“I should have informed the government about these past images, but I did not. Therefore, I have decided not to take the position,” Tiberg remarked in a statement to the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter.
Background of Tobias Tiberg
Tiberg previously served as Sweden’s ambassador to Afghanistan from 2017 to 2019, followed by his role as ambassador to Ukraine until 2023. Most recently, he headed the Foreign Ministry’s Unit for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This highlights a concerning trend, as Tiberg is the third National Security Advisor in Sweden’s recent history to leave the post under unusual circumstances. His predecessor, Henrik Landerholm, resigned in January amid an investigation regarding the mishandling of classified documents.
Temporary Succession
In light of this unexpected resignation, Johan Stewart announced that Annika Brandström, the Deputy National Security Advisor, will temporarily take over the duties of the role. A new recruitment process will commence to find a permanent replacement for Tiberg.
The incident underscores the importance of transparency and thorough vetting in government appointments, particularly for roles with significant responsibilities and sensitive information.