According to the Foreign Minister, her focus is on safeguarding Swedish interests.
It's about safeguarding Sweden's and the USA's relations, among other things, regardless of which administration is in power. There, we have the same interests, essentially, as the President of the USA, namely, we safeguard our country's best interests, she says.
Morgan Johansson, foreign policy spokesperson for the Social Democrats, also criticizes the government for not speaking clearly about the new US administration.
It's just as well that we say it straight out, the rule-based world order is now also being undermined by the American administration, says Johansson.
Take a deep breath
As an example, he takes a series of statements made by Donald Trump recently – about Greenland, that Canada should become a US state, that the USA should take over the Panama Canal, and expel Palestinians from Gaza and turn it into the Middle East's Riviera.
We must be very clear when it comes to such plans, it can never be accepted, regardless of where it comes from, and here Sweden must speak with a clear voice, he says.
But the Foreign Minister does not agree that the government is passive, and she advises Morgan Johansson to take a deep breath.
When asked by Svenneling how she views Donald Trump's wish to expel Palestinians from Gaza, she says that Gaza is first and foremost a home for those who live there, and that "many countries will need to be involved in the reconstruction."
The goal must be a two-state solution where the building of a Palestinian state – including Gaza – is an important part.
A political prerequisite for this is a Gaza free from Hamas rule.
Ukraine is the most important
The most important issue in the foreign policy declaration is, however, the support for Ukraine. The Foreign Minister says that Sweden, the EU, and NATO are in a "long-term, far-reaching confrontation" with Russia.
Sweden is facing a difficult security policy time, she says.
Malmer Stenergard emphasizes that "our task is inevitable":
We should counter Russia's ability to harm us, not least by supporting Ukraine.
With Donald Trump as the new President of the USA, peace negotiations are expected to begin this year.
It's up to Ukraine to decide when negotiations should begin. Our clear focus is to make Ukraine's position stronger, says Malmer Stenergard.
Only a peace achieved through strength can be sustainable. A peace negotiated from a weak position would only encourage further Russian aggression, she says.
Peter Wallberg/TT
Maria Davidsson/TT
Johanna Ekström/TT
Facts: Excerpts from the foreign policy declaration
TTTT
Support for Ukraine is the government's top foreign policy priority
Russia's ability to cause harm should be countered
Ukraine support should be strengthened and pressure on the Russian economy increased
Sweden pursues a solidarity-based alliance policy aimed at strengthening security and stability in our neighborhood, as well as in the entire Euro-Atlantic area
The government is pushing for further steps towards EU membership for Ukraine and Moldova
A new consulate general in Houston, Texas, will open
The consulate general in Brussels will be upgraded to an embassy in Belgium
In 2025, Sweden will open a new embassy in Senegal
The work continues for the release of journalist Dawit Isaak, publisher Gui Minhai, and researcher Ahmadreza Djalali.
Source: The government's foreign policy declaration 2025
