Slow eastward expansion emptied a country (6)

I believe the answer is:

sweden

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'country' is the definition.
(Sweden is an example)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for sweden that I've seen before include "We send out to the northern state" , "Scandinavian kingdom" , "North European country" , "northern kingdom" , "land" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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