Jan Eliasson
Swedish diplomat who served in the Swedish embassy in Washington in 1972 and later became Foreign Affairs and Political Advisor to Olof Palme and Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations; provides first-hand recollections of the diplomatic freeze with the USA.
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Mar 2, 2026 • 10min
Sweden’s diplomatic freeze with the USA
Jan Eliasson, veteran Swedish diplomat and former UN deputy secretary-general, recalls being at the Swedish embassy in Washington in 1972. He describes receiving Palme’s fiery telex, the speech comparing US actions to historic massacres, and the US recall of its ambassador. He also recounts how junior diplomats kept channels open and the gradual thaw led by Kissinger.
