After four years of Tidö cooperation, the Sweden Democrats have had some influence over foreign policy, especially regarding aid as part of the state budget.
But it is only in government that the party reaches the core of foreign policy decision-making. The path to that is now open. If the SD wins the election, Aron Emilsson, chairman of the Riksdag's Foreign Affairs Committee, could become Minister of Foreign Affairs.
"I have to be prepared for that," he says.
"We support Ulf Kristersson as Prime Minister and having responsibility for migration and integration policy. But otherwise, all government portfolios are on the table for negotiation."
Increased arms exports
In foreign policy, SD wants to prioritize developing a doctrine for the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions. It should include operational military and civil planning between the NB10, the eight Nordic and Baltic countries plus Poland and Germany. Such a doctrine should not be seen as a Plan B for NATO, according to Emilsson.
"No, but rather as a complement, now that we see the United States withdrawing forces from Europe."
Another issue that SD has been pushing for a long time is to withdraw recognition of Palestine as a state. That issue should also be on the table with SD in the government, according to Emilsson. He also wants to increase arms exports to Israel.
"There are mutual benefits to having military equipment exports and imports between Sweden and Israel. Israel has an unrivaled capability when it comes to air defense, for example."
Move the embassy
The next term of office should also take steps to move the Swedish embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, according to Emilsson. This could be done by establishing a Swedish-Israeli cultural center in Jerusalem. Then the city should also be formally recognized as the capital of Israel.
"We are strengthening our presence with more diplomatic contacts to prepare for a full-scale embassy move."
He also says that the SD may consider reducing the aid budget, which this year is 53 billion kronor, even further. This is something that the coalition parties KD and L are against.
Emilsson also believes that the government should use the aid as leverage in more agreements related to migration, including with Syria. The government has been criticized for entering into agreements with Somalia and is now investigating the possibility of agreements with the Taliban in Afghanistan.
"Our assessment is that there is room for agreements with more countries," he says.
The Sweden Democrats' stance on some foreign policy issues:
The US is seen as a strong ally and the SD trusts that the country would help Sweden in the event of an armed attack. At the same time, there is "a lack of trust and confidence".
"It is clear that there is a risk that NATO will fall apart and that Europe and the Nordic countries will need to replace capabilities that only the US has today," says Aron Emilsson.
SD says the US and Israel's war against Iran "probably" violates international law, but at the same time, international law is not complete and may need to be supplemented with a humanitarian dimension so that the outside world can intervene.
The Iranian embassy's presence in Sweden should be reduced to a minimum. What should be allowed is, in principle, one ambassador and a few additional staff.
SD views the nuclear weapons dialogue that the government has initiated with France positively. Sweden will eventually need to adapt its air force or other systems to accommodate such capabilities. In the long term, the Nordic countries may need a nuclear weapons program.
EU cooperation should continue but be reformed from within. The EU is a "key actor" in defense and security policy. SD wants to retain and expand the right of veto within the Union.
SD welcomes Viktor Orbán's loss of power in Hungary because it will now be easier to support Ukraine and push through sanctions against Russia.
Source: SD's EU program, Sveriges Radio's Saturday interview, TT interview.
