The Price of Silence

As Gaza burns, Sweden’s foreign minister misses the moment

In a recent debate on Swedish Radio’s Studio Ett, the question of whether Sweden should increase pressure on Israel took center stage. The conversation between Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and Social Democrat Morgan Johansson revealed not just a political divide—but a deeper crisis of leadership.

Stenergard, appointed Foreign Minister in September 2024 after a tenure as Minister for Migration, has yet to fully inhabit the demands of her new role. Her absence from the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 15 July—where Israel’s compliance with international law was debated—was not merely a scheduling oversight. It reflected a deeper misreading of what the position requires. Foreign ministers don’t get formal vacations. They are expected to be present when diplomacy is on the line. In response to Johansson’s criticism that Sweden lacked leadership, Stenergard dismissed the concerns: “Morgan Johansson’s criticism is extremely thin—I have full confidence in our very skilled EU ambassadors.” But confidence in staff is no substitute for ministerial presence. In moments of crisis, leadership cannot be delegated.