Sweden–Tunisia relations

Swedish–Tunisian relations
Map indicating locations of Sweden and Tunisia

Sweden
Tunisia

Sweden–Tunisia relations refers to the current and historical relationship between Sweden and Tunisia. Connections between the two countries date back to 1736,[1] when the Swedes concluded a treaty of peace and trade with the Beylik of Tunis. Formal relations began after Tunisian independence from France in 1956, and have continued since.

History

A Swedish consulate was established in Tunis in 1737 at the request of Swedish merchants and in connection with the peace treaty concluded that same year. The district covered all the ports in Tunis. The consulate was dissolved in 1882 and replaced by a vice-consulate under the general consulate in Algiers. The consulate was re-established in 1897, with its district encompassing the French protectorate of Tunis.[2]

In June 1956, Sweden officially recognized Tunisia as an independent state. The Swedish consulate in Tunis had established relations with the Tunisian authorities, signifying Sweden's recognition of Tunisia.[3] Sweden and Tunisia established diplomatic relations that same year.[4]

The Swedish ambassador to Tunisia was initially stationed in Rabat, Morocco. A Swedish embassy opened in Tunis in 1963. It closed in 2001.[5] On 5 November 2015, the Swedish government announced that the embassy in Tunis would be reopened.[6] In 2016 and after 14 years of its closure, the Swedish embassy in Tunis has reopened its doors in the presence of the foreign ministers of the two countries.[7] Tunisia has an embassy in Stockholm, and after the Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi official visit in November 2015, the head of the embassy became ambassador.

Tunisia is a popular destination for Swedish tourists, in addition to the bilateral trade and humanitarian aid between the countries.[8] During the unrest that followed the Tunisian Revolution in January 2011, about a dozen Swedes who had come to Tunisia to hunt boars were beaten and arrested on suspicion of being foreign terrorists.[9] While the Sweden supported the new leadership of Tunisia following the Revolution, the Left Party politician Hans Linde condemned the Swedish government for maintaining an extensive arms trade with Tunisia in previous years, fueling the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Les relations de la Suède avec la Tunisie".
  2. ^ Almquist, Johan Axel (1914). Kommerskollegium och Riksens Ständers Manufakturkontor samt konsulsstaten 1651-1910: administrativa och biografiska anteckningar (PDF). Meddelanden från svenska Riksarkivet, Ny följd. Ser. 2, 99-0506720-5 ; 4 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Norstedt. p. 388. SELIBR 844316.
  3. ^ "Sverige erkänner Marocko–Tunisien" [Sweden recognizes Morocco–Tunisia]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 1956-06-03. p. A15. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  4. ^ "Tunisien" [Tunisia] (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  5. ^ "UD i budgetkris stänger ambassader" [Foreign Ministry in budget crisis closes embassies]. Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). 2000-12-17. p. 10. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Sverige kommer att öppna ambassad i Tunisien" [Sweden will open an embassy in Tunisia] (Press release) (in Swedish). Government Offices of Sweden. 5 November 2015. Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  7. ^ "14 ans après sa fermeture, réouverture de l'ambassade de Suède à Tunis".
  8. ^ "Tunisien" [Tunisia]. www.regeringen.se (in Swedish). Government of Sweden. 5 March 2008. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Swedish boar hunters safe after Tunisia attack". The Local. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  10. ^ Linde, Hans (19 January 2014). "Svensk vapenexport orsak till det tunisiska folkets lidande". Sveriges Television (in Swedish). Stockholm. Retrieved 22 December 2014.


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