Over two decades, Sweden poured SEK 27 billion (€2.3 billion) into military and aid efforts in Afghanistan, with lofty goals of promoting feminism and societal change. A freshly released parliamentary investigation, however, paints a grim picture of the results.
On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard received the report, which examined Sweden’s involvement in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021. The mission aimed to assess the impact of Sweden’s feminist-driven initiatives, but as it turns out, the ambitious project failed to deliver the envisioned societal transformation.
Investigators attributed the shortcomings to a lack of understanding of Afghanistan’s complexities and an overly optimistic belief in rapid progress. Swedish policymakers had hoped improvements in education and healthcare for Afghan women would create lasting, positive effects. But according to Swedish Radio, these aspirations now seem naïve.
Summarizing the endeavor as an “expensive feminist failure,” critics note that the hefty price tag brought little lasting change. Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Stenergard acknowledged the scope of Sweden’s commitment.
“The evaluation clearly shows the extensive commitment Sweden has had in Afghanistan for two decades. At no other place in the world has such a significant and long-term Swedish effort been carried out by so many Swedish state actors. It is important that it is evaluated and that we can draw lessons from the work,” said Stenergard in a press statement.
The parliamentary investigation evaluated Sweden’s contributions, spanning military efforts, aid programs, foreign policy initiatives, and civilian operations. It also analyzed the 2021 evacuation during the Taliban’s return to power. The report aimed to clarify the outcomes of Sweden’s involvement and highlight lessons learned.
“Although the Swedish presence in the country is now complete, our commitment to the Afghan people, not least the women and girls who are extremely hard hit by the terror of the Taliban, continues,” added Stenergard.
The report was submitted without reservations or dissenting opinions, underscoring a collective acknowledgment of the shortcomings in Sweden’s Afghanistan mission.
