The Left Party demands to be included in a government if the Red-Greens win a majority this fall. Then the important post of foreign minister would be on the table, according to V.
However, for the last 40 years it has gone to a Moderate or a Social Democrat.
I think that all positions in the government, possibly excluding the post of prime minister, are part of the negotiations that a government base needs to conduct, says Håkan Svenneling, foreign policy spokesperson.
If he is asked to become foreign minister after the election, he would say yes.
It would be an honor to represent Sweden.
Break with Israel
Then Sweden would stand up more clearly for public law and international law, says Svenneling, mentioning, among other things, the "genocide in Gaza" and the US and Israel's attack on Iran.
Margot Wallström's time as foreign minister was a better time, he says.
Arms exports to Israel will cease and the Swedish military attaché in Tel Aviv will be withdrawn. The government will also take action against the ISP authority to close loopholes in legislation regarding so-called follow-on deliveries and other equipment exports.
We want to cut military ties to Israel.
Another measure V wants to see is to remove Israel from contexts like Eurovision.
The party also believes Sweden is safer outside NATO, but is now downplaying the issue of withdrawal. It is not an issue for the next term.
It is not an issue that the next government and the next Riksdag need to decide on, says Svenneling.
When we became members of NATO, we realized that NATO as an organization has existed for 75 years. It is not completely unbelievable that Sweden will be a member of the organization for many decades to come.
Don't trust the US
However, Sweden will leave NATO's nuclear planning group and V is hesitant to continue the nuclear dialogue with France. The party is pushing for the Nordic region to be a nuclear-free zone and for Sweden to have a law prohibiting the import of nuclear weapons.
At the same time, Sweden cannot rely on NATO's Article 5 or that the US would come to Sweden's aid militarily in the event of an armed attack, according to Svenneling.
No. They might as well send a press release from the White House saying “good luck.”
V will continue to push the issue of tearing up the DCA agreement (a defense cooperation) with the US, but it is also important that a new government does not implement the agreement, according to the party. There is a rift between V and S.
Morgan Johansson of the Social Democrats does not think I should have this requirement, says Håkan Svenneling.
Facts: V's line in foreign policy
The Left Party's stance on some foreign policy issues:
Sweden will return to the 1 percent target for aid in the next term. V wants to see a parliamentary agreement that makes this possible. Aid should go to poor and climate-stricken countries, links to migration should be completely removed, while there are areas where aid and trade can work together.
"We need to make major changes in the governance of aid from what this government calls the reform agenda," says Håkan Svenneling.
The US and Israel's war against Iran constitutes a violation of international law, according to the Left Party. Sanctions against Iran need to be increased at the same time as the country needs to be democratized.
Reza Pahlavi should be seen as "one of several leaders" in Iran. Swedish politicians should not single out any individual, according to Svenneling.
Sweden should not close the Iranian embassy because diplomatic contacts may be necessary. A closure would also result in Swedish missions in Tehran being affected, according to V.
Sweden will develop other collaborations beyond NATO, including the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
If the next Minister of Defense asks for V's support for a NATO operation in Turkey or the Mediterranean, the party would be hesitant.
"It's the Arctic, it's the North Atlantic, it's the Arctic Ocean, it's the Baltic Sea, those are our export areas and there we should help each other, against Russia, which poses a threat to us."
