The Swedish government has instructed the Swedish Agency for International Development Cooperation, known as Sida, to create strategies that utilize foreign aid as a method to encourage countries to accept their nationals who are being deported from Sweden. This initiative is part of the government's broader objective to facilitate effective returns of deported individuals and ensure that countries fulfill their international obligations in accepting their citizens. The approach is characterized as both a 'carrot and stick' tactic, emphasizing cooperation and responsibility among nations concerning deportation issues.

Sida’s directives, outlined in the regulation letter for 2026, call for the development of aid models conditioned on the cooperation of countries in matters of return, voluntary repatriation, and sustainable reintegration of returnees. Hanna Hellquist, Director General at Sida, noted the importance of forming partnerships with states to enhance the efficiency of the return process. This document works as a roadmap for Sida's efforts over the year, guiding the agency in aligning its aid strategies with the Swedish government's immigration and return policies.

The implications of this strategy are profound, as it not only aims to enforce compliance from countries regarding the acceptance of their returnees but also intertwines Sweden's foreign aid with national interests, such as promoting Swedish trade. The government’s insistence on conditional aid reflects a shift towards using developmental assistance as a tool for diplomatic negotiations on immigration matters, raising questions about the ethical considerations of linking humanitarian support to deportation processes.