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Iraq–Sweden relations

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Iraq–Sweden relations
Map indicating locations of Iraq and Sweden

Iraq
Sweden

Iraq–Sweden relations are foreign relations between Iraq and Sweden. Iraq has an embassy in Stockholm, and a new Swedish embassy opened in Baghdad in 2009. Iraq has severed all ties with Sweden since July 2023, after Swedish authorities allowed a man to burn the Iraqi flag and the Quran in front of the Iraqi Embassy, Stockholm.[1][2][3]

Sweden is one of the largest donors to the protection force for UN personnel in Iraq, that was established in 2004. There are around 200,000 Iraqis living in Sweden, making them the second largest minority group living there.

History

In 1903, Sweden began diplomatic relations with the then Ottoman Empire and a Swedish consulate was established.[4]

In November 1934, the Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf and Crown Princess Margaret, Princess Ingrid and Prince Bertil visited Iraq. On 1 November they arrived in Baghdad. King Ghazi of Iraq met at his country house Kasr-el-Zuhoor, from where he accompanied his guests to Bilatt Castle, where they were invited to take up residence. At all the official events that followed, except for King Ghazi, his uncle and father-in-law, King Ali of Hejaz, the President of the Council and members of the Cabinet, the President of the Senate and others. On 6 November, the royals left by train for Khanaqin for further transport to Tehran. On 25 November the return trip to Baghdad began over the snowy passes along the Kum-Sultanabad-Kermanshah road. After a week-long unofficial stay in Baghdad with visits to modern factories and excursions to Ur and Babylon, the Crown Prince and Princess Ingrid left for Damascus on 5 December.[5]

Sweden has had diplomatic relations with Iraq since 1960.[6] On July 20, 2023, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani prompted by "repeated incidents of desecration of the sacred Qur'an" and "insults to Islamic shrines and the burning of the Iraqi flag"[7] ordered the withdrawal of the Iraqi charge d’affaires in Stockholm and expelled the Swedish ambassador to Iraq[8] effectively severing diplomatic ties with Sweden.

Trade

Sweden has for many years had established trade relations with Iraq. During the 1980s, several large Swedish companies were present in Iraq. Many Swedish companies have hence good knowledge about the Iraqi market, and have a good reputation in the area.[9]

The Swedish export to Iraq has during the last years mainly contained engineering products. The export to Iraq was almost SEK 444 million in 2008, of which SEK 384 million were engineering products. The Swedish import from Iraq has increased from low levels of earlier years and was about SEK 9 million in 2008.[10]

Iraqi refugees

Since 2003, 36,700 Iraqis have applied for asylum in Sweden. The peak year was 2007 with 18,600 applications. About 50 per cent of all asylum applications from Iraqis to European countries in 2006 and 2007 were made in Sweden. Since 2003, about 38,000 Iraqis have been granted a residence permit in Sweden; more than 20,000 of these were granted after an application for asylum, more than 15,000 for the purpose of family reunion and over 1,000 for resettlement.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Officiell invigning av ambassaden" [Official opening of the Embassy] (in Swedish). Embassy of Sweden, Baghdad. 24 February 2010. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  2. ^ Iraq asks Sweden's ambassador to leave Baghdad | CNN, 2023-07-20, retrieved 2023-07-20
  3. ^ "Iraq severs diplomatic ties with Sweden over anti-Quran demonstration as protesters storm Baghdad embassy | Fox News". www.foxnews.com. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
  4. ^ "Irak" [Iraq] (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  5. ^ Kjellberg, H.E., ed. (1934). Svenska Dagbladets årsbok (Händelserna 1934) [Svenska Dagbladet's yearbook (Events of 1934)] (in Swedish). Vol. 12. Stockholm: Svenska Dagbladet. pp. 74, 76. SELIBR 283647.
  6. ^ "Avtal om partnerskap och samarbete mellan Europeiska unionen och dess medlemsstater, å ena sidan, och Republiken Irak, å andra sidan Prop. 2013/14:165". Regeringskansliets rättsdatabaser (in Swedish). Stockholm: Government Offices of Sweden. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Iraq expels Swedish ambassador over planned Qur'an-burning protest". euronews. July 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "Prime Minister orders to withdraw the Iraqi Chargé d'Affairs in Stockholm, and instructs the Swedish Ambassador to leave Iraqi territory » Iraqi News Agency".
  9. ^ "Iraq". www.business-sweden.se. Archived from the original on 2017-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
  10. ^ "Embassy of Sweden Baghdad - Trade with Iraq". Swedenabroad.com. 2010-04-14. Archived from the original on 2011-12-22. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
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