Erik von Sydow

Erik von Sydow (2 September 1912 – 5 December 1997) was a Swedish diplomat who began his career after earning a law degree from Uppsala University in 1935. He joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1936, serving in Berlin, Riga, and Tallinn, where he handled political and trade matters and consular duties.

He later served in Tokyo as second and then first secretary, becoming chargé d’affaires ad interim in 1945, before being evacuated in 1946. Post-war, he held senior positions including trade counsellor in Paris and Washington, D.C., director-general for trade policy, and head of the Ministry’s Trade Department. He chaired trade negotiations with multiple countries and represented Sweden at international conferences.

Von Sydow served as Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to the International Organizations in Geneva and EFTA (1964–1971) and as Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the European Communities in Brussels (1972–1978). After retiring, he chaired the Sweden–EEC Joint Committee and led the Friends of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities (1978–1985).