Sweden was one of the significant European powers in the 1600s but from what I understand of it, a general lack of income prevented her from being pre-eminent (that and the Battle of Poltava in 1709).
During the height of her empire, Sweden had control of parts (or in some cases, all) of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Russia and even Trinidad & Tobago.
However, that territorial ambition was all but stopped after the Battle of Poltava.
Would the Swedes be interested in resurrecting part of their old empire? I tend to think not because I think too much time has passed and many Swedes of the late 20th century would not feel any sort of connection to the empire of the 17th century. I think they would be more concerned with maintaining what they already possess as the world crumbles around them.
The French were propelled into their foreign policy (or should that be, empire building!) by a desire after the 1960s for self-sufficiency from Europe and the NATO alliance but the Swedes have no such motivation.
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