As Prime Minister, Palme’s internationalism was remarkable – supporting the Vietcong against the United States during the Vietnam War, condemning Franco’s regime in Spain as “goddamn murderers” for executing political prisoners and visiting Cuba in 1975, where he condemned the Batista regime and praised Cuba’s revolutionaries. Even this wasn’t the height of the Palme government’s internationalism. Under his leadership, Sweden not only supported but funded the FMLN in El Salvador and Sandinistas in Nicaragua during their fights against the US-backed Contra militias. Most famously, it also provided funding the African National Congress in South Africa. Palme was one of the world’s most vocal opponents of apartheid. When he was assassinated, ANC President Oliver Tambo wrote an incredible essay in his memory:
If only Europe had leaders like Palme today, I think that would be especially relevant at a time like this