Previous vThe debate in the corner has been characterized by demands to bring back the imprisoned journalist Joakim Medin and criticism of Sweden's quiet diplomacy. At the same time, USA newly introduced customs aroused strong reactions. Ballowance policy has also been on the agenda, and not least gender equality work, in the surge after the annual meeting of the UN Commission on Women.
Criticism has been expressed against what is perceived to be Sweden's lack of a clear strategy for protecting citizens deprived of their liberty abroad. The latest example is journalist Joakim Medin, who has been imprisoned in Turkiet. Debaters vactive Inom freedom of expression area type i Dagens Nyheter and asks targeted efforts from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA).
– To achieve success, Sweden needs to increase its commitment and create an organization within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to handle these problems, writes Kerstin Almegård, chairwoman of Svenska Pen, Caroline Edelstam, Chairman of the Harald Edelstam Foundation, Mona Haghgou Strindberg, lawyer specializing in arbitrary detention, and Erik Larsson, Chairman of Reporters Without Borders Sweden.
Although Marcus Willershausen, foreign policy spokesperson for the Liberal Youth League, directs sharp criticism of the government's line. He believes that quiet diplomacy should be replaced by more explicit public pressure, including economic and diplomatic pressure on Turkey. Previous cases such as Dawit Isaak and Ahmadreza Djalali show that the strategy has not proven effective, type Willershausen's i Today's ETC.
Similar voices are heard from Express editorial page urging the government to "act resolutely" to bring Medin back and learn from previous cases of imprisoned Swedes.
Swedish aid policy in troubled times
The government's restructuring of aid policy is criticized by representatives in the opposition.
– The slaughter of the aid budget affects millions of people living in poverty and vulnerability, writes Annika Strandhäll and Sara Kukka-Salam, the chairwoman of S-women and Social Democrats for Faith and Solidarity, respectively, in Today's ETC.
They believe that Sweden is now following an international trend where funds are being shifted from development work to military investments and that this risks undermining peace-building development cooperation. Can we afford it? to put 3,5 procent of GDP on defense, we can also afford one percent in aid, underlines of.
A news article in Global Bar highlights that several organizations who have progressed in Sida's call for applications av new CSO support was excluded from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' advice on aid, without it being clear what selection criteria were applied.
But i a debate article in the same publication Malin Flemström, CEO of The Hunger Project, wonders whether the selection process for the consultations om the Swedish assistanceet has never been clear. Flemström writes that Sida's selection processes have long had a lack of transparency that has prevented new actors from entering the system.
Flemström thinks therefore that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' invitation to consultation can be interpreted as a possible step towards change - where more voices are allowed to speak in the aid dialogue.
Civil society warns of setbacks in gender equality work
After the UN Commission on Women meeting (CSW) In March 2025, a group of Swedish civil society organizations warned that women's rights were under pressure. In a debate article in Everything type participants in Sweden's delegation to CSW and representative of UN Women Sweden, Sweden's municipalities and regions, Civil Rights Defenders, Talita, Unizon and the Swedish Women's Lobby have stated that some member states, including the USA, have questioned formulations about sexual and reproductive health in the political declaration. According to the debaters, the negotiations show that gender equality issues remain controversial.
– When the global situation is difficult, we need more than ever to work together, in all sectors, for a future where all women and girls enjoy their human rights, they write, urging Sweden to continue to take global leadership, defend the right to abortion and support local women's rights activists..
At the same time pay attention 16 organizationsdown in Sydsvenskan that Sida's latest annual report shows how the proportion of aid with gender equality as an objective or partlylift dropped from 86 to 65 percent between 2019 and 2024. In monetary terms, aid for gender equality has been halved. They note the promises of the Minister of Equality that Sweden continued ska to be a strong voice for gender equality:
– If the government is serious, it is still not too late to break the downward trend and increase aid for gender equality.
Trump in a values war against world trade
This week, President Trump imposed new tariffs, which attracted international attention. In Expressen Ylva Nilsson writes that Trump's tariffs were not only a way to protect American industry, but also a strategic attempt to undermine the global order that the United States itself had helped build. By bypassing the World Trade Organization (WTO) and introducing punitive tariffs, Trump put free trade principles at risk – something that, according to Nilsson, could threaten the United States' long-term position of power.
Mattias Svensson on Svenska Dagbladet writes that Trump's tariff policy does not solve the problems it claims to address, and in fact may not even address real problems. He calls the measures "madness disguised as percentages" and warns that they could have negative effects for both the United States and its trading partners.
Imprisoned journalists
"The Joakim Medin case shows Sweden's weakness"
Kerstin Almegard, chairman of Swedish Pen
Caroline Edelstam, Chairwoman of the Harald Edelstam Foundation
Mona Haghgou Strindberg, lawyer specializing in arbitrary detention
Erik Larsson, chairman of Reporters Without Borders Sweden, Dagens Nyheter
Break cooperation with Turkey – and bring Joakim Medin home
Marcus Willershausen, Foreign Policy Spokesperson, Liberal Youth Union, Dagens ETC
Sweden must not repeat the mistake of 2001
Unsigned editorial, Expressen
In Turkey they think journalism is terror
Anders Lindberg, Aftonbladet
Muf chairman's demand: Joakim Medin must be released
Douglas Thor, chairman of the Moderate Youth Union, Dagens ETC
Aid indirection
Aid should not finance defense
Annika Strandhäll, chairwoman of S-women
Sara Kukka-Salam, chairwoman of the Social Democrats for Faith and Solidarity, Dagens ETC
It's good that the government is giving space to small organizations
Malin Flemstrom, CEO at The Hunger Project Sweden, Global Bar
Sweden must not abandon the fight for global gender equality
8 delegates in Sweden's delegation to the UN Commission on Women, Everything
“Despite the government's promises, aid for gender equality is decreasing drastically.”
16 civil society organizations, Sydsvenskan
Trump's trade war
Trump's cunning plan to destroy US power
Ylva Nilsson, Expressen
Now it's spring for madness
Mattias Svensson, Svenska Dagbladet
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