General topics regarding the Middle East and North Africa

The plan does not address a comprehensive Middle East strategy. Closest principle is that foreign policy should be governed by international law, human rights, women's liberation and international solidarity, not by national image-keeping; nationalism is said to have no place in left politics. The counter-proposal's emphasis on handling disinformation and strengthening Sweden's image does not respond to these commitments, so the plan does not support the demand.

• HR-governed foreign policydecisive»Sverige ska föra en självständig utrikespolitik där demokrati, respekt för folkrätten och de mänskliga rättigheterna, hållbar utveckling,« (party programme ↗)“Sweden should conduct an independent foreign policy where democracy, respect for international law and human rights, sustainable development,”
• rejected nationalism»Nationalismen har ingen plats i en demokratisk« (party programme ↗)“Nationalism has no place in a democratic”
• women's rights prioritized»Kvinnors rätt till arbete, självbestämmande och sexuell« (party programme ↗)“Women's right to work, self-determination and sexual”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan states that the Swedish people are targets for influence campaigns and disinformation and demands that the ability to resist disinformation is strengthened. The counter-proposal's demand for a coordinated regional strategy that also handles disinformation about Swedish social services and police is thus in line with the plan. The plan also wants Sweden to be a strong global voice and an active peacebuilder in the region's conflicts.

• resist disinformationdecisive»Arbetet för att stärka förmågan att stå emot cyberattacker och desinformation ska stärkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The work to strengthen the ability to resist cyber attacks and disinformation must be strengthened.”
• influence campaigns against Sweden»Svenska folket är måltavla för påverkanskampanjer och desinformation.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Swedish people are targets for influence campaigns and disinformation.”
• strong global voice»Sverige ska vara en stark global röst.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall be a strong global voice.”
• active role as peacebuilder»Sverige ska fortsätta att spela en aktiv roll som medlare, brobyggare och samtalspartner« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall continue to play an active role as a mediator, peacebuilder and dialogue partner”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan does not address any regional Middle East strategy. Its overriding commitment is that Swedish foreign and development policy should be guided by poverty reduction, international law and human rights and not conditioned against Sweden's domestic political interests. A strategy whose stated purpose is to strengthen Sweden's image goes in the opposite direction, so the plan speaks against the demand. The conclusion is derived.

• foreign policy free from domestic interestsdecisive»att mer än 1 procent av Sveriges bruttonationalinkomst fortsatt ska gå till bistånd, att biståndet ska styras av principer om effektivitet och fattigdomsbekämpning och inte villkoras mot Sveriges inrikespolitiska intressen.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“that more than 1 percent of Sweden's gross national income continues to go to development aid, that development aid should be guided by principles of effectiveness and poverty reduction and not conditioned against Sweden's domestic political interests.”
• global justice before self-interest»Målet om en rättvis och hållbar global utveckling måste gå före kortsiktiga ekonomiska intressen.« (party programme ↗)“The goal of a just and sustainable global development must take precedence over short-term economic interests.”
• international law and human rights at center»Miljöpartiet de gröna sätter folkrätten och de mänskliga rättigheterna i centrum.« (party programme ↗)“The Green Party places international law and human rights at the center.”
• feminist foreign policy»utveckla och förstärka Sveriges feministiska utrikes- och utvecklingspolitik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“develop and strengthen Sweden's feminist foreign and development policy.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan says nothing about a comprehensive Middle East strategy, but binds foreign policy to universal rights and freedoms and requires that Sweden is strengthened against authoritarian powers' influence. A comprehensive strategy that also addresses disinformation about Swedish authorities is in line with that. The conclusion is based on general principles, however, so the confidence is low.

• rights-based foreign policydecisive»Utrikes- och säkerhetspolitiken syftar ytterst till att värna universella mänskliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Foreign and security policy ultimately aims to protect universal human rights and freedoms.”
• resilience against influence»Sverige måste rustas även mot dessa hot.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden must also be strengthened against these threats.”
• women's rights globally»Det gäller oavsett om det sker i Sverige eller i andra länder, och inte minst när det används som vapen i krig och konflikter.« (party programme ↗)“This applies whether it happens in Sweden or in other countries, and especially when it is used as a weapon in war and conflicts.”

The plan demands a values-based foreign policy and that trade and promotion policy strengthens Sweden's image as an actor for a freer world, which speaks for a unified strategy for the Middle East and North Africa. The plan also wants to protect social workers against persecution, which lies close to the requirement to meet disinformation about Swedish social services. The support is inferred; the plan addresses no regional strategy as such.

• strengthened promotion policydecisive»Handels- och främjandepolitiken ska stärka Sverige som aktör för en friare värld« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Trade and promotion policy shall strengthen Sweden as an actor for a freer world”
• values-based foreign policy»Vi kallar det för vad det är: en ny värderingsstyrd utrikespolitik.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We call it what it is: a new values-based foreign policy.”
• protection for social workers»Socialsekreterare och andra offentliganställda ska skyddas mot förföljelse och utsatthet genom att ett nytt brott – tjänstemannaförföljelse – införs.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Social workers and other public employees shall be protected against persecution and victimisation through a new crime – persecution of a civil servant – being introduced.”
• equality in aid»jämställdhet och sexuell och reproduktiv hälsa och rättigheter« (party programme ↗)“gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The party programme requires that aid is a component in a unified foreign policy and that work for global development is based on a holistic view, which lies close to the counter-proposal's demand for a combined regional strategy. The plan's broadened security concept also encompasses threats directed at the image of Swedish authorities. The connection is however general, so confidence is low.

• unified foreign policydecisive»måste vara en komponent i en sammanhållen utrikespolitik till stöd för mänskliga rättigheter« (party programme ↗)“must be a component in a unified foreign policy in support of human rights”
• foreign policy goals»Svensk utrikespolitik ska främja fred, frihet, demokrati och utveckling samt mänskliga rättigheter, förståelse och försoning.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish foreign policy shall promote peace, freedom, democracy and development and human rights, understanding and reconciliation.”
• broadened security concept»möta angrepp från internationell kriminalitet, terrorism, cyberkrigföring« (party programme ↗)“meet attacks from international crime, terrorism, cyber warfare”
• holistic view in foreign policy»Arbetet för global utveckling kräver en helhetssyn« (party programme ↗)“Work for global development requires a holistic view”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The plan establishes that there is reason to review Sweden's full range of foreign policy tools and that Swedish foreign policy should protect Swedish interests. It also promises an action plan with concrete measures against hybrid threats, which precisely affects disinformation about Swedish authorities. The counter-proposal's demand for a new comprehensive Middle East strategy with measures against disinformation and for Sweden's image follows from these commitments.

• action plan against hybrid threatsdecisive»Införa en handlingsplan med konkreta åtgärder mot hybridhot och cyberattacker« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce an action plan with concrete measures against hybrid threats and cyberattacks”
• review of foreign policy»I en föränderlig omvärld finns skäl att se över Sveriges samlade utrikespolitiska verktygslåda.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“In a changing world, there is reason to review Sweden's full range of foreign policy tools.”
• foreign policy for Swedish interestsweak support»Svensk utrikespolitik ska värna svenska intressen.« (party programme ↗)“Swedish foreign policy should protect Swedish interests.”
• democracy and human rights prioritised»Prioritera insatser som stödjer arbetet för demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prioritise efforts that support work for democracy and human rights”

flags: citat_svagt

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

The election manifesto explicitly establishes that foreign policy shall protect Sweden's interests and reputation and that the worsened image of Sweden in the world is something the party wants to change. The counter-proposal's requirement for a coordinated Middle East strategy that addresses disinformation about Swedish social services and police and strengthens the image of Sweden is precisely this. The plan also wants to prioritize the foreign policy issues that have the greatest impact on Swedish society.

• protect Sweden's reputationdecisive»Sveriges utrikespolitik ska utformas för att värna Sveriges intressen och renommé.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden's foreign policy shall be designed to protect Sweden's interests and reputation.”
• improve the image of Sweden»Bilden av Sverige i världen har under den gångna mandatperioden försämrats delvis på grund av inkonsekvens och misslyckanden i utrikespolitiken. Det vill vi ändra på.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The image of Sweden in the world has worsened during the past term partly due to inconsistency and failures in foreign policy. We want to change that.”
• prioritize what affects Sweden»En grundläggande utmaning i ett allt mer instabilt närområde är att prioritera frågor som kan få stor påverkan för det svenska samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A fundamental challenge in an increasingly unstable immediate region is to prioritize issues that can have major impact for Swedish society.”
• Swedish interests internationally»Värna svenska intressen i internationella sammanhang« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Protect Swedish interests in international contexts”

The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.