Was it necessary to ask the UN chief for help?

Lena Mellin  

Kristersson asks the UN chief for help  

Will explain how Sweden works  

Published: Less than 10 min ago  

This is a commenting text. Analysis and positions are the writer's.  

COLUMNISTS  

Ulf Kristersson asks Antonio Guterres for help.  

That a Swedish prime minister requests a handshake from the head of the UN has never happened before.  

The reason: Extensive anti-Swedish actions and disinformation. 

Ulf Kristersson and Mikael Tofvesson, head of the operational department at the Agency for Psychological Defense. Photo: Peter Wixtröm 

On Tuesday evening, Ulf Kristersson gathered all the party leaders in the Riksdag for information about, among other things, the influence campaigns that are ongoing against Sweden in many parts of the world.  

They began on a large scale already in December 2021 with claims that Swedish authorities are kidnapping Muslim children and separating them from their families. The anti-Swedish sentiments have been given new fuel by the hanging doll representing Turkish President Erdogan at Stockholm City Hall. And of the Danish right-wing extremist Rasmus Paludan's burning of the Koran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm last weekend. 

In the propaganda against Sweden, it is often presented as if the country of Sweden is behind the actions. It could be true if the authorities systematically kidnapped Muslim children. But since they don't, it's fake news. Invention. 

Nor is the state apparatus behind either hanging a doll on a lamp post with an Erdogan mask. Or that a failed Danish extremist politician sets fire to a book he doesn't like.  

That was what Ulf Kristersson wanted help with when he spoke to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after the meeting with the party leaders. To explain how Sweden works. 

- He has a wide network of contacts, Ulf Kristersson explained the unique measure of asking the UN chief for help. 

UN chief Antonio Guterres. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB 

Guterres has an impressive CV, which means that he likely has the contact network that Kristersson wants. Among other things, he has been Prime Minister of Portugal, Chairman of the European Council, head of the Socialist International and UN Commissioner for Refugees. 

Was it necessary to ask the UN chief for help? I do not know. But what I do know is that if you feel crowded, you pull at every toe you see. This is Kristersson's first crisis as Prime Minister and he does not want it to slip out of his hands.  

The Prime Minister never said that he was afraid that the Danish crisis after twelve satirical cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten would be repeated. Death threats, boycott of Danish goods in many countries for several years, anti-Danish lawsuits. 

But one got the impression that it was something similar that Kristersson was afraid of. Actions that harm Swedish companies and that may threaten the safety of Swedish citizens. 

Is the fear justified? It's hard to know. But one reason for pointing out dangers is to avoid them. By putting the problem in the middle of the table, you can reduce it. 

But the diplomatic activity is in any case extensive. It is not only the head of the UN who must explain the difference between the Swedish state and the right to express one's opinions, no matter how stupid, outrageous and distasteful they are. 

Sweden's chief negotiator on the NATO issue Oscar Stenström and the new national security adviser Henrik Landerholm are on their way to Washington to meet Landerholm's American colleague. Kristersson himself will meet a lot of Finnish politicians such as the president and the prime minister.  

But regardless of all these talks and attempts to mitigate the effects of Koran burning and other things, the situation looks like this: 

• Russia still wants to create a new security order in Europe. It is super important for them and therefore the war in Ukraine will not end for a long time. In that world order, Russia must also decide on Swedish and Finnish foreign policy. And probably a little more.  

• The NATO application is on hold until further notice.  

• Anti-Swedish moods are at a high level. But they are no worse than last week. Always something.