Is Sweden forgetting its history?

On “Sweden, forgetting its history, denying svenskamerikaner [citizenship]” - a reply from Urban Ahlin, the Ambassador of Sweden to the United States. 

  • Ambassador Urban Ahlin presented his credentials to President Joe Biden in September 2023. Photo The White House.

  • In issue 7, 2026 of Nordstjernan, a reader commented about contacting the ambassador about “Sweden forgetting its history, denying svenskamerikaner “ In his reply the ambassador addresses today’s rules regarding citizenship:

  • On “Sweden, forgetting its history, denying svenskamerikaner [citizenship]” - a reply from the Ambassador of Sweden to the United States.

  • I have unfortunately not seen the original letter from James Nelson Prudden but enjoyed his well written contribution in Nordstjernan. The embassy receives hundreds of mails every day and the response in a case like this will come from the consular section in charge of visa and passport issues. Rules in Sweden are what decides the road to Swedish citizenship, it’s not something I as the ambassador can affect. All changes in later years have also been about tightening requirements to become a Swedish citizen.

  • I do wish Sweden had a more open attitude toward someone with a clear connection to Sweden really wanting to become a Swedish citizen. And this is how I’ve felt since the early 1990s when the future of the remaining Swedish speaking population of Gammal Svenskby in Ukraine was discussed.
    I was disappointed when Sweden did not consider it reasonable to allow them to come to Sweden as Swedish citizens as many from the village had done in 1929. When the Soviet Union was dissolved Germany allowed the pockets of German population in parts of the Soviet domain to return and become German citizens. Sweden, however, did not acknowledge the Ukrainian Swedes. There was so much tragedy in the history of the people of Gammal Svenskby, going back to the forced displacement from Dagö in present day Estonia in the 18th century. I thought it was stingy of Sweden to not allow them special treatment.
    I personally wouldn't have any problem whatsoever with people who have a clear connection to Sweden being able to become citizens more easily, but that's not how the legislation looks. Also, and as mentioned, the debate is going in the other direction, it’s getting harder to become a Swedish citizen.

  • I love the enthusiasm of Nelson Prudden [Nordstjernan subscriber and author of the original letter to the ambassador] and his fellow Swedish Americans. Hats off to you all. I am merely an appointed official whereas people in the USA that share his strong interest in and connection to Sweden are our [Sweden’s] true ambassadors in the USA.

  • Urban Ahlin, Ambassador

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