(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
We who sign this letter are members of the Swedish People's Party (SV). When the SV's national convention in 2023 decided to remove NATO withdrawal from the program, we supported the large minority that was against it. Ahead of the SV's national convention in March 2025, a proposal for a work program has been presented in which the party's criticism of NATO has been completely erased, with the exception of criticism of NATO's nuclear strategy.
We heard from the party leadership two years ago that SVs NATO criticism was unchanged – it was “only” the goal of withdrawal from NATO which had been removed. This argument is not very credible. If it were the case that the party's criticism of NATO is valid, why is it being planned to remove this NATO criticism in the new the work program? Why is the previous work program's claim that NATO is not primarily a defense alliance being deleted? Or the previous program's point that NATO's eastern expansion has created a more uncertain world? Why should SV no longer believe that NATO is "a tool for promoting Western economic and foreign policy interests"? We ask the SV leadership to answer.
Paranoid threat exaggerations
Our concern goes further, however. We fear that a number of positions are now being downplayed or disappearing, as they do not fit with the party's changed view of NATO. What do you think? SV on big issues such as the West's relationship with the global south, the new Cold War and the global power struggle? SV has made peace with NATO and entered into a defense agreement – but where is SV's independent foreign policy? Where is the Peace Party?
SV has stood for an internationalism with a sting against all imperialism. We have been for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and for security to be something indivisible, which also applies to our counterparts. We have criticized armament and paranoid exaggerations of threats, especially when this comes from the world's overwhelmingly strongest military bloc, NATO.
We demand that SV discontinue its support for the long-term program for the Armed Forces.
The global South, which comprises the overwhelming majority of humanity, has become a powerful factor in world politics. The West's time as the dominant power bloc is limited. But not over. Under USAs leadership, we are preparing for war against China. Primitive propaganda is whipped up. Norway, as an obedient NATO member, sends frigates to East Asia.
Norway
We act like old people imperialister. The truth is that Norway does not have serious conflicts of interest with China. The truth is that it is the USA/NATO that surrounds China with bases and naval ships. It is not China that surrounds the US or threatens war. Should the West really 'stand in solidarity' with the Western imperialist bloc in the fight against countries that the US designates as rivals? Should we accept a black-and-white worldview, produced in Washington, that the so-called free world is threatened by 'totalitarian' states, and that we therefore must arm ourselves?
A socialist party cannot support any great power, neither the USA, Russia, China or any other. As socialists, we support the growing resistance to war in Western countries, in Russia and in Ukraine. We demand that SV discontinue its support for long-term program for the Armed Forces, since this includes out-of-area operations and, in the extreme case, Norway becoming entangled in new assault warrior. In the work program 20 years ago, it was stated that SV's vision of Norway as a peace nation "is not compatible with the role Norway plays in NATO today." Do you in the party leadership agree that these are incompatible dimensions?
Ukraine war
But doesn't Russia's attack on Ukraine show that the West, NATO and Norway are threatened? Russia has committed a war of aggression in violation of international law. But we do not see, frankly, that Russia has the ability to attack either European or other countries. 90 percent of Russia's land forces are deployed against Ukraine. Russia's defense budget is about one twelfth of the United States'. No Western experts claim that Russia today threatens Europe. They only claim, hypothetically, that such a threat could arise in the future.
No Western expert claims that Russia today threatens Europe.
Regardless of previous disagreements, SV should now join a negotiating line in Ukraine war. SV must say no to continued war funding for Ukraine. A majority of Ukrainians support a peace based on compromise. No victory for either side is in sight. The Ukrainian people are not served by leading NATO’s proxy war to “final victory.” Only real negotiations with the participation of the UN, the global south and NATO countries can give weight to a compromise peace. Ukraine’s independence must be guaranteed, as must the legitimate security interests of both parties. Does SV’s leadership dare to fight for such a negotiation line? Or is it only when NATO supports a peace line that the UN also joins in? It will take time and require senseless loss of Ukrainian lives.
The National Assembly
It is up to the SV National Convention on 14–16 March to make decisions that highlight the criticism of NATO that the party leadership claims is unchanged, that advocate a negotiated compromise in Ukraine and that ensure that SV does not become a party supporting the West's economic and political interests. The National Convention is sovereign. If the National Convention does not share the analysis we have presented here, we must of course take note of that. In that case, we risk pushing members and peace activists from us. SV will then not be a peace political alternative in the 2025 general election.
See comment by Arne Overreign.
Signed by: Einar Braathen, Frogner SV, Gro Standnes, Grünerløkka SV, Andreas Wohl, Vestre Aker, Liss Schanke, Frogner SV, Trond-Egil Jakobsen, Gamle Oslo SV, Bitte Vatvedt, Ullern SV, Mons Lie, Nordre Aker SV, Astrid Bergesen, Nordre Aker SV, Gunnar Gjengset, Nordstrand SV, Helle Linné Eriksen, Grorud SV, Ivar Gammelmo, Nordre Aker SV, Aage Berge, Rælingen SV, Hallgeir Langeland, Stavanger SV, Åse Simonsen, Bergen SV, Hans Ebbing, Bergen SV, Kija Indrearne, Bergen SV, Thorleif Næss, Bergen SV, Janeke Vatne, Bergen SV, Eilert Jan Lohne, Bergen SV, Kjersti Rødland, Bergen SV, Kjartan Haugsnes, Vaksdal SV, Rune Skarstein, Trondheim SV, Ida Bull, Trondheim SV, Svein Liland, Trondheim SV, Olav Gilsåmo, Meråker SV, Steinar Engen, Bodø SV, Kyrre Didriksen, Bodø SV, Johnny Kristiansen, Harstad SV, Marit Overrein, Tromsø SV, Guri Martens, Tromsø SV, and Arne Overrein, Tromsø SV
