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The significance of Sweden's royal visit to Indonesia
Sweden sees itself as the world’s conscience, and as it turns out, that is exactly how the world views it — at least according to the latest Best Countries rankings.
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Queen Silvia of Sweden during a meeting with the Pope, at the Vatican, Nov. 24, 2016. (AP/Andrew Medichini)
T
he visit of the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia to Indonesia undoubtedly emphasizes the growing significance of Swedish-Indonesian relations. Unlike the king’s previous tour to Indonesia in 2012 in his capacity as the honorary president of the World Scout Foundation, his current trip marks the monarch’s first official state visit to the Southeast Asian country since diplomatic relations between the two nations were established in 1952.
As I have learned from our conversations, the king carries a deep passion for the environment. When I listened to him speak about nature conservation in Sweden, it was clear that it wasn’t only Sweden’s pristine nature that earned it the title of best country for green living, but mainly the nation’s focus on environmental issues.
Sweden sees itself as the world’s conscience, and as it turns out, that is exactly how the world views it — at least according to the latest Best Countries rankings.
“Sweden has a global reputation for promoting social justice and progressive causes both within and outside its borders,” read the survey, listing the country’s feminist foreign policy.
