Foreign relations of Sweden
The foreign policy of Sweden is based on the premise that national security is best served by staying free of alliances in peacetime in order to remain a neutral country in the event of war. In 2002, Sweden revised its security doctrine. The security doctrine still states that "Sweden pursues a policy of non-participation in military alliances," but permits cooperation in response to threats against peace and security. The government also seeks to maintain Sweden's high standard of living. These two objectives require heavy expenditures for social welfare, defense spending at rates considered low by Western European standards (currently around 1.2% of GNP[1]), and close attention to foreign trade opportunities and world economic cooperation.
Kingdom of Sweden
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| This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Sweden |
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United Nations
Sweden has been a member of the United Nations since November 19, 1946, and participates actively in the activities of the organization, including as an elected member of the Security Council (1957–1958, 1975–1976, 1997–1998 and 2017–2018), providing Dag Hammarskjöld as the second elected Secretary-General of the UN, etc. The strong interest of the Swedish Government and people in international cooperation and peacemaking has been supplemented in the early 1980s by renewed attention to Nordic and European security questions.
Sweden decided not to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.[2]
European Union
After the then Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson had submitted Sweden's application in July 1991 the negotiations began in February 1993. Finally, on January 1, 1995, Sweden became a member of the European Union. While some argued that it went against Sweden's historic policy of neutrality, where Sweden had not joined during the Cold War because it was seen as incompatible with neutrality, others viewed the move as a natural extension of the economic cooperation that had been going on since 1972 with the EU. Sweden addressed this controversy by reserving the right not to participate in any future EU defense alliance. In membership negotiations in 1993–1994, Sweden also had reserved the right to make the final decision on whether to join the third stage of the EMU "in light of continued developments." In a nationwide referendum in November 1994, 52.3 percent of participants voted in favour of EU membership. Voter turnout was high, 83.3 percent of the eligible voters voted. The main Swedish concerns included winning popular support for EU cooperation, EU enlargement, and strengthening the EU in areas such as economic growth, job promotion, and environmental issues.
In polls taken a few years after the referendum, many Swedes indicated that they were unhappy with Sweden's membership in the EU. However, after Sweden successfully hosted its first presidency of the EU in the first half of 2001, most Swedes today have a more positive attitude towards the EU. The government, with the support of the Center Party, decided in spring 1997 to remain outside of the EMU, at least until 2002. A referendum was held on September 14, 2003. The results were 55.9% for no, 42.0% yes and 2.1% giving no answer ("blank vote").
Nordic Council
Swedish foreign policy has been the result of a wide consensus. Sweden cooperates closely with its Nordic neighbors, formally in economic and social matters through the Nordic Council of Ministers and informally in political matters through direct consultation.
Nonalignment
Swedish neutrality and nonalignment policy in peacetime may partly explain how the country could stay out of wars since 1814. Swedish governments have not defined nonalignment as precluding outspoken positions in international affairs. Government leaders have favored national liberation movements that enjoy broad support among developing world countries, with notable attention to Africa. During the Cold War, Sweden was suspicious of the superpowers, which it saw as making decisions affecting small countries without always consulting those countries. With the end of the Cold War, that suspicion has lessened somewhat, although Sweden still chooses to remain nonaligned. Sweden has devoted particular attention to issues of disarmament, arms control, and nuclear nonproliferation and has contributed importantly to UN and other international peacekeeping efforts, including the NATO-led peacekeeping forces in the Balkans. It sat as an observer in the Western European Union from 1995 to 2011, but it is not an active member of NATO's Partnership for Peace and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.
Sweden's engagement with NATO was especially strengthened during the term of Anders Fogh Rasmussen.[3]
Sweden's nonalignment policy has led it to serve as the protecting power for a number of nations who don't have formal diplomatic relations with each other for various reasons. It currently represents the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations in North Korea for consular matters. On several occasions when the United Kingdom broke off relations with Iran (including the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the Salman Rushdie affair, and the 2012 storming of the British embassy in Tehran), Sweden served as the protecting power for the UK.
Military
Sweden has employed its military on numerous occasions since the end of the Cold War, from Bosnia and Congo to Afghanistan and Libya. According to one study, "this military activism is driven both by the Swedish internationalist tradition of "doing good" in the world, but also for instrumental purposes. These include a desire for political influence in international institutions, an interest in collective milieu shaping, and a concern to improve the interoperability and effectiveness of the Swedish military."[4]
Participation in international organizations
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Africa
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 | See Burkina Faso–Sweden relations
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 | See Ethiopia–Sweden relations
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 | 1974 | See Guinea-Bissau–Sweden relations
Sweden established official diplomatic relations with Guinea-Bissau in 1974, the same year Guinea-Bissau formally gained independence from Portugal.[5]
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 | See Kenya–Sweden relations
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 | See Namibia–Sweden relations
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 | See South Africa-Sweden relations
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 | See Sweden–Tunisia relations
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Americas
| Region | Formal relations began | Notes |
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 | See Argentina–Sweden relations
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 | See Brazil–Sweden relations
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.svg.png){kind=small} | See Canada–Sweden relations
Relations with Canada are close, positive and constructive. Both countries have strong commitments to peacekeeping, UN reform, development assistance, environmental protection, sustainable development, and the promotion and protection of human rights.[6] In addition, there are more than 300,000 Canadians of Swedish descent.[7]
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 | 1827 | See Chile–Sweden relations
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 | 11 December, 1874 |
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 | 16 June 1975 |
Both countries established diplomatic relations on June 16, 1975.
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 | July 29, 1885 | See Mexico–Sweden relations.
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 | See Peru–Sweden relations
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 | See Sweden–United States relations.
Sweden and the United States have had strong ties since the 18th century.
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 | See Sweden–Uruguay relations
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Asia
| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
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 | See China–Sweden relations
In July 2019, the UN ambassadors from 22 nations, including Sweden, signed a joint letter to the UNHRC condemning China’s mistreatment of the Uyghurs as well as its mistreatment of other minority groups, urging the Chinese government to close the Xinjiang re-education camps.[10][11] | |
 | 19 September 1992 | See Georgia–Sweden relations |
 | See Iran–Sweden relations. | |
 | See Iraq–Sweden relations.
Iraq has an embassy in Stockholm and Sweden has an embassy in Baghdad.[12] Sweden is one of the largest donors to the protection force for UN personnel in Iraq, that was established in 2004. | |
 | See Israel–Sweden relations.
Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1949. Israel has an embassy in Stockholm.[13] Sweden has an embassy in Tel Aviv.[14] | |
 | See Malaysia–Sweden relations.
Diplomatic relations were established in 1958.[15] Sweden has an embassy in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has an embassy in Stockholm. As of 2009, 90 Swedish companies are present in Malaysia and about 450 Swedish citizens live in Malaysia. | |
 | April 7, 1973[16] | See North Korea–Sweden relations |
 | March 11, 1959[17] | See South Korea–Sweden relations
The establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Konungariket Sverige began on March 11, 1959.[18]
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 | See Sweden–Turkey relations.
Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Union for the Mediterranean. Sweden supports Turkey's European Union membership.[19][20] Sweden's Green Party has criticized France and Germany's opposition to Turkey's membership.[21][22] |
Europe
| Region | Formal relations began | Notes |
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 | 1992 |
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 | July 6, 1914 |
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 | See Cyprus–Sweden relations
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 | See Denmark–Sweden relations.
Today, both countries are separated by the Øresund, which links the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, of the Council of Europe, and of the European Union. There are around 21,000 Swedish people living in Denmark and there are around 42,000 Danish people living in Sweden.
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 | See Estonia–Sweden relations.
Estonia was under Swedish occupation between 1561 and 1721. Sweden re-recognized Estonia on August 27, 1991. | |
 | See Finland–Sweden relations.
Finnish–Swedish relations have a long history (Sweden and Finland was the same country for several hundred years), due to the close relationship between Finland and Sweden. Particularly in Finland, the issue emerges in frequent exposés of Finnish history, and in motives for governmental proposals and actions as reported in Finnish news broadcasts in English or other foreign languages. In Sweden, this relationship is a recurrent important theme of 20th-century history, although maybe by most Swedes considered to be an issue of purely historical relevance now that both countries have been members of the European Union since 1995. | |
 | See France–Sweden relations.
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 | See Germany–Sweden relations
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 | See Greece–Sweden relations
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 | See Hungary–Sweden relations
Diplomacy relations between the two countries started on December 28, 1945.
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 | See Iceland–Sweden relations
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 | See Italy–Sweden relations
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 | See Kosovo–Sweden relations
Sweden recognized Kosovo on March 4, 2008.[23] Liaison Office of Sweden in Pristina, subordinated to the Embassy in Skopje, North Macedonia.[24] On March 8, 2008, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt became the first foreign minister to officially visit Kosovo since it declared its independence.[25] Sweden currently has 243 troops serving in Kosovo as peacekeepers in the NATO led Kosovo Force.[26]
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 | See Lithuania–Sweden relations
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 | See Moldova–Sweden relations
Sweden is one of Moldova's top donors. From 1996, Sweden provided Moldova with technical assistance worth 30 million dollars, which significantly helped strengthen sectors such as: protection of human rights, democracy, good governance, public health, education, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, transport and the private sector. Much of the aid is delivered through the Swedish International Development Agency.[27][28] In 2007, the Swedish Government established the 2007–2010 strategy of cooperation with Moldova, which sees 11 million euros in financial assistance annually for three important sectors: good governance, strengthening of com petitiveness in the rural area and reduction of vulnerability in the energy sector.[27]
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 | See Norway–Sweden relations
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 | See Poland–Sweden relations
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 | 1 November, 1916 |
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 | See Russia–Sweden relations.
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 | See Serbia–Sweden relations.
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 | See Spain–Sweden relations
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 | See Sweden–Ukraine relations.
A Ukrainian information bureau was opened 1916 in Stockholm by Volodymyr Stepankivskyi and M. Zaliznyak. In 1918 an official diplomatic mission from the Ukrainian People's Republic headed by K. Lossky was opened in Stockholm.[29] Diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Sweden were established on January 13, 1992.
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 | See Sweden–United Kingdom relations.
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Oceania
| Country | Formal relations began | Notes |
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.svg.png){kind=small} | See Australia–Sweden relations.
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 | See New Zealand–Sweden relations
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See also
References
- WorldBank. "Military expenditure (% of GDP)". report. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
- "Sweden declines to sign UN nuclear ban treaty". The Local. July 12, 2019.
- NATO Review. "Sweden: a special NATO partner?". NATO Review. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- Aggestam, Lisbeth; Hyde-Price, Adrian (December 17, 2015). Pierre, Jon (ed.). ""A Force for Good"?". doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199665679.001.0001. ISBN 9780199665679. Cite journal requires
|journal=(help) - Sellström, Tor. Sweden and National Liberation in Southern Africa. Uppsala: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, 1999. pp. 69–70.
- Canada-Sweden Relations Archived February 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- "Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada – Data table". April 2, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- "Felsida". Archived from the original on February 21, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 15, 2007. Retrieved June 19, 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Which Countries Are For or Against China's Xinjiang Policies?". The Diplomat. July 15, 2019.
- "More than 20 ambassadors condemn China's treatment of Uighurs in Xinjiang". The Guardian. July 11, 2019.
- Swedish embassy in Baghdad Archived September 8, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
- "Israels ambassad i Sverige". Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- "Tel Aviv – SwedenAbroad". Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- "National Day of Sweden Celebrations in Malaysia". Scandasia.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2009.
6 June 2008 does not only represent the National Day of Sweden, but also marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between Sweden and Malaysia. ...
- Wertz, Daniel; Oh, JJ; Kim, Insung (August 2016). Issue Brief: DPRK Diplomatic Relations (PDF). The National Committee on North Korea. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2017.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- http://www.mofa.go.kr/ENG/countries/europe/countries/20070823/1_24594.jsp?menu=m_30_40
- http://overseas.mofa.go.kr/se-en/wpge/m_7967/contents.do
- "Turkey Has Friends in EU, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt". Turkish Weekly. April 21, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- "EU'S UPCOMING PRESIDENT EXTENDS FULL SUPPORT FOR TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP". TurkNet. May 8, 2009. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- "Sweden's Greens: Opposition to Turkey due to Islamophobia". Today's Zaman. May 11, 2009. Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- "German, French Leaders Oppose Turkey Joining EU". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- "Sweden recognises the Republic of Kosovo" (Press release). Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. March 4, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
- Liaison Office of Sweden in Pristina, Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
- Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt to visit Kosovo and Macedonia, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, March 6, 2008.
- "Kosovo Force (KFOR)" nato.int Link accessed 21-07-09.
- http://www.moldpres.md/default.asp?Lang=en&ID=63135
- http://www.moldpres.md/default.asp?Lang=en&ID=77702
- "Посольство України в Королівстві Швеція". Archived from the original on April 30, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
Further reading
- Elgström, Ole, and Magnus Jerneck. "Activism and adaptation: Swedish security strategies, 1814–85." Diplomacy and Statecraft 8.3 (1997): 210-236.
- Grimberg, Carl. A History of Sweden (1935) online free
- Horn, David Bayne. Great Britain and Europe in the eighteenth century (1967) covers 1603–1702; pp 236–69.
- Lindström, Peter, and Svante Norrhem. Flattering Alliances: Scandinavia, Diplomacy and the Austrian-French Balance of Power, 1648–1740 (Nordic Academic Press, 2013).
- Makko, Aryo. Ambassadors of Realpolitik: Sweden, the CSCE and the Cold War (2016) excerpt
- Nordstrom, Byron J. The History of Sweden (2002) excerpt and text search; also full text online free to borrow
- Salmon, Patrick. Scandinavia and the great powers 1890–1940 (Cambridge University Press, 2002).
- Sevin, Efe. Public diplomacy and the implementation of foreign policy in the US, Sweden and Turkey (Springer International Publishing, 2017).
External links
- CIA World Factbook – Sweden
- United States Department of State – Sweden
- "Sweden and Africa — a policy to address common challenges and opportunities" White paper delivered by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Riksdag March 6, 2008
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