Date: May 11, 2025
By: International Desk
Stockholm – In a political shockwave, Sweden’s newly appointed National Security Advisor, Tobias Thyberg, resigned just hours after taking office on Friday. The sudden resignation came after intimate photos from an old Grindr profile surfaced online.
Thyberg, a seasoned diplomat who previously served as ambassador to Ukraine and Afghanistan, was seen as a stabilizing figure after his predecessor, Henrik Landerholm, resigned amid a criminal investigation over mishandling classified information.
However, Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter published a report revealing that Thyberg had posted sensitive personal images on Grindr in the past. While the images date back to a time before his public service, the revelation raised concerns about potential blackmail risks and a lack of disclosure during the security vetting process.
In a brief statement, Thyberg acknowledged the photos were authentic and explained that he did not include them in his security review “because he didn’t consider them relevant.” He added that stepping down was “the right thing to do to preserve public trust and avoid further distraction.”
The incident has triggered criticism of Sweden’s security clearance procedures. Experts and political opponents are calling for stricter background checks, especially for high-security roles, as Sweden faces growing international and cyber threats.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s office responded with a short statement: “The matter is being taken seriously, and a new appointment will be made soon.”
This marks the second resignation from the National Security Advisor post in less than a year—raising serious questions about oversight, transparency, and stability at the highest levels of Sweden’s security leadership.
