The minister is worried about the consequences of the war

Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) is concerned that the conflict in the Middle East will spread.

– We already see that the conflict in the Middle East or in other places in the world affects Sweden, she says to Dagens Nyheter.

After a year of war in Gaza, the conflict has seriously spread to Lebanon. Iran has responded by sending hundreds of robots against Israel, which has promised a strong response.

The situation is tense and unpredictable, says the foreign minister and notes that a major war in the Middle East would have consequences for Sweden.

– We are not an isolated island. We also have large diasporas where, not least after October 7, we have seen that it has created certain conflicts in the country. It is in everyone’s interest that we can now defuse the situation.

Thousands of Swedes are believed to be in Libya, but where many other countries have announced that they must evacuate citizens, Sweden, citing an existing travel advisory, has placed the responsibility on the individual.

On Thursday, Malmer Stenergard announced that the embassy in Beirut will reopen after being temporarily closed since the beginning of August. It should not, however, be interpreted as the government changing its foot.

– We have always tried to help Swedish citizens who want to return to Sweden. We have always provided consular support. There has been little demand, but there has been an opportunity to get financial assistance in the form of loans to, for example, buy a plane ticket, she says.