In a few months, Sweden's minority government has managed to antagonise both Israel and the Arab world, while also angering business leaders at home as Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom steadfastly pursues human rights and feminism.
Wallstrom's agenda, and the criticism it has drawn, has exposed a struggle over Sweden's identity and whether it should become what some politicians call a "moral great power", or prioritise security and an export-led economy.
After Sweden cancelled a defence cooperation accord with Saudi Arabia last week over rights concerns, the Arab League condemned Wallstrom and blocked her from giving a speech in Cairo. Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador from Stockholm; hundreds of millions of dollars in business are threatened.
"I won't back down over my statements on women's rights, democracy and that one shouldn't flog bloggers," Wallstrom said, referring to sentencing of Raif Badawi to 1,000 lashes. "I have nothing to be ashamed of."
Sweden has a history of neutrality. But under the previous centre-right government it forged closer links with NATO, participating in military missions in Afghanistan and Libya, something Wallstrom has promised to tone down.
"Much of what Sweden exports of high technology requires the various types of long-term commitments," Wallstrom's centre-right predecessor Carl Bildt wrote in his blog. "There is a real risk ... (the cancellation) will hit Swedish interests, not only in Saudi Arabia itself."
DIPLOMATIC MISCALCULATIONS
But the Saudi row may not have been Wallstrom's doing, and has brought accusations of diplomatic miscalculations by the squabbling coalition government.
Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, who worked for nearly two decades as a welder in the defence industry, was in favour of a revised Saudi deal. But this was vetoed by leftist Social Democrats and the Green Party, the junior partner that keeps him in power.
They included fashion retailer H&M's main owner Stefan Persson and Investor Chairman Jacob Wallenberg.
"Social Democrats have traditionally been pragmatic in foreign policy," said Anna Wieslander, deputy director of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs. "So this may be about government personalities and coalition wrangling."
It was not the only controversy. Wallstrom's first diplomatic move was to recognise the state of Palestine, prompting Israel to recall its ambassador and angering the United States.
Ironically, this championing of rights may have actually damaged Sweden's ability to punch above its weight.
The first victim may be its ambition to win enough votes to be a rotating member of the UN Security Council.
"The Swedish brand, as a reliable partner who you can talk to, has been badly hurt," said Sven Hirdman, a former Swedish ambassador to Moscow.
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