Johan Pehrson (L) highlighted democracy aid and NATO in his Almedal speech

In Johan Perhrson's (L) party leadership speech during Almedalen Week, he raised several foreign policy issues - including the EU, NATO and Swedish democracy assistance.

Of: Julia Lundén Azzeddine, Andreas Klawitter and Elin Malmqvist

"The school's biggest champion". This is how the Liberals' party leader Johan Pehrson was introduced at Tuesday's second party leadership speech during Almedalen Week 2022. When Pehrson left Sweden and the school world for a while, he highlighted, among other things, the security policy situation in the world and Swedish democracy assistance. 

July 6, 2022, Almedalen - article, News

Nooshi Dadgostar (V) raised climate initiatives and criticism of NATO membership in Almedalen

The Left Party's party leader Nooshi Dadgostar will give a speech in Almedalen on Monday evening. Photo: Fanny Tegman Lindholm.

Of: Fanny Tegman Lindholm, Hibo Yusuf Ahmed and Andrea Thorgren

During Nooshi Dadgostar's (V) party leadership speech during Almedalen Week, she promised new climate initiatives for reduced emissions. She also criticized Magdalena Andersson's (S) NATO agreement with Turkey.

July 5, 2022, Almedalen - article, News

Ulf Kristersson (M) focused on domestic policy in his Almedal speech

The Moderates' party leader Ulf Kristersson touched on the issue of NATO membership during his Almedal speech. Otherwise, he left out global development issues. Photo: Brusk Ismail.

Of: Brusk Ismail, Hanna Carlsson, Linnea Ljungar and Sara Lannebo

The Moderates' party leader Ulf Kristersson mostly focused on domestic politics in his Almedal speech. Wallet issues and crime, but also NATO and was high on the agenda. Kristersson, on the other hand, did not mention anything about global development issues.

July 4, 2022, Almedalen - article, News

Magdalena Andersson (S) highlighted NATO and climate change in her Almedal speech

Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (S) focused largely on national issues in her Almedal speech, but she also touched on Swedish NATO membership and climate change. Photo: Sandra Duru.

Of: Alice Eriksson, Sandra Duru and Tanya

In her party leadership speech during Almedalen Week, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (S) emphasized that Sweden faces several challenges - not least due to the consequences of the war in Ukraine. Swedish NATO membership and climate change were also highlighted, but development aid and international development cooperation were completely omitted in the speech.

July 4, 2022, Almedalen - article, News

Week 22: Climate summit in Stockholm and Turkey's demands for Swedish NATO membership guide this week's debate

This is what it looked like when world leaders triumphantly agreed on the 1,5-degree goal at the climate summit in Paris in 2015. In connection with the Stockholm + 50 meeting that took place this week, it is still a matter of rolling up our sleeves and getting the job done, Lovisa Arvidsson writes in Aftonbladet. Photo: UNclimatechange. Source: Flickr.

Of: Hanne Karlsson and Markus Hietanen

During the past week, both Turkey's demands for Swedish NATO membership and the Stockholm + 50 Climate Summit have been debated. How should Sweden respond to Turkey's various demands and what is most important to prioritize in the climate issue? 

June 8, 2022, Current debate

In the shadow of the NATO application: Sweden can reintroduce arms exports to Turkey

In order for Turkey to approve Sweden's NATO application, the country demands, among other things, that Sweden revoke the export ban on weapons introduced against Turkey in 2019. Pictured: An American soldier with the Swedish weapon AT4, a Swedish armored shot manufactured by Saab Dynamics AB. Photo: Sgt. Harley Jelis, New York National Guard. Source: Flickr.

Of: Elise Olsson

Sweden's NATO application has been challenged by Turkey, which does not want to allow a Swedish NATO membership unless Sweden agrees to five demands made by Turkey. One of them is to revoke the export ban on weapons that Sweden introduced against Turkey during 2019.

May 31, 2022, Notis

Week 20: Sweden's application for NATO membership arouses opposition

The fact that Turkey has demanded that Sweden extradite about 20 Kurds in order for Sweden's NATO application to be accepted has created debate. Among other things, several left-wing parties demand a guarantee from Foreign Minister Ann Linde (S) that no Kurds will be extradited. Photo: NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Source: Flickr.

Of: Elise Olsson and Idun Eklind

Sweden's now submitted NATO application and Swedish arms exports have been high on the agenda in the past week. A potential Swedish NATO membership has aroused both criticism and opposition. Partly because the decision was not voted on by the Swedish people, partly because the application has not been welcomed by Turkey.

May 23, 2022, Current debate

Week 19: debaters question new gender affiliation law and Swedish NATO membership

During the past week, debaters have, among other things, discussed the proposal for a new gender affiliation law. Pictured: Pride parade in Stockholm, 2018. Photo: Sparrow. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Hanne Karlsson

During the past week, several actors have debated whether a new gender equality law in Sweden would mean a necessary modernization or whether it would do more harm than good. The NATO issue has also remained on the agenda.  

May 18, 2022, Current debate

Week 18: Debaters warn of cuts in aid

Instead of taking money from development aid to pay for refugee reception, Sweden should increase support for farmers in poor parts of the world, in order to counter a global food crisis. This is what Anna Tibblin, Secretary General of We Effect, and Anna-Karin Hatt, CEO of the Swedish Farmers' Association (LRF), write in a debate article in SvD. Pictured: Mauritania, which in 2012 was hit by a serious food crisis. Photo: Oxfam International. Source: Flickr.

Of: Alice Eriksson

Last week warned debaters for the consequences of reducing Swedish aid when the UN flags that billions of people in the world could be starved due to the war in Ukraine, while the question about nuclear weapons was a part of the continued NATO debate. 

May 9, 2022, Current debate

Week 16: Debators turn on the NATO issue

In mid-April, the Social Democratic prime ministers of Sweden and Finland - Magdalena Andersson and Sanna Marin - met to discuss the countries' possible entry into NATO. Now, among other things, Aftonbladet's editorial board is turning on the issue - and believes that Sweden should join NATO. Photo: FinnishGovernment. Source: Flickr.

Of: Hanne Karlsson and Linnea Ljungar

Last week's debate and leadership pages revolved to a large extent around the riots that took place in several Swedish cities during the Easter weekend. The global issues that were discussed continued to be about a possible Swedish membership in NATO - and among other things, Aftonbladet's management side has changed their opinion on the issue.

April 25, 2022, Current debate