Sweden – Susanne Berger, Jan. 12, 2026
Sweden and the EU’s highly pragmatic approach towards Eritrea has failed to secure any clear concessions from one of the world’s most repressive regimes write SUSANNE BERGER and CAROLINE EDELSTAM
“Rumors of an impending release of 800 prisoners or more have been swirling in Asmara for weeks now. If true, hopefully also Dawit Isaak’s ordeal and that of his family can finally come to an end. Sweden’s Foreign Minister needs to make clear that she will accept nothing less.”
Shortly before Christmas came news about a surprise two-day visit to Eritrea by Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, the first by a top-level Swedish diplomat in 32 years. According to a statement by the Eritrean Ministry of Information the visit focused on bilateral relations as well as peace and security issues.
At home in Sweden, expectations centered on the fate of Swedish Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaak, who has been unlawfully imprisoned in Eritrea for 24 years. However, hopes for his immediate release were quickly dashed. Nevertheless, in a press conference after her return, Malmer Stenergard declared herself satisfied with her visit and what she said was the start of a “new approach”, one that would allow for continued talks on a range of issues, such as Dawit Isaak, regional tensions and broader global challenges. The Minister also publicly confirmed that she believes Dawit Isaak to be alive.
The new age of Swedish political realism
The most important aspect of the trip, however, went virtually unnoticed – the fact that just like Malmer Stenergard’s earlier visit to China back in October 2025, her decision to travel to Eritrea marked a new era in Swedish foreign policy: Sweden now freely embraces a highly pragmatic policy approach, part of a trend generally referred to as geoeconomics. It places a premium on the pursuit of national interests, economic, strategic, and political, while deemphasizing value-based policy making, including the advocacy for human rights.
The Swedish Foreign Minister’s visit took place against the backdrop of Eritrea showing signs of diplomatic opening in recent months, as well as the surprise release of 13 political prisoners, some of whom had been held for up to 18 years without charge or trial. This was followed by the release of approximately 100 other detainees, mostly protestants and members of evangelical churches that are banned in Eritrea
