SWEDEN WILL INCREASE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L STOCKHOLM 000187 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR FOR NB E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/07/2018 TAGS: NATO PREL MOPS MARR AF SW SUBJECT: SWEDEN WILL INCREASE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN REF: STATE 19516 Classified By: Polcouns Casey Christensen for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On March 6, poloff and Defense Attache's Office (DAO) delivered, in parallel to the MFA and MOD, reftel demarche seeking additional Swedish support in Afghanistan. MOD's U.S. Desk Officer Karin Hevert noted that Sweden's participation in the current EU Nordic Battle Group will end in June, but some of its all-volunteer troops will still be under contract with the Swedish military. Sweden will draw from these troops to replace/reinforce troops currently in Afghanistan. In total, the Swedish military plans to increase its troop contribution in Afghanistan from around 365 to over 410 by the end of the summer, and to 550 by 2009. The role of these troops appears to be to strengthen security due to a possible increase in the Taliban's threat to the Swedish contingent. ¶2. (C) In poloff's meeting with MFA Deputy Director of Security Policy Karin Anderman, it was noted that the Swedish Government is interested in contributing more to training Afghanistan's National Army and police. However, she said internal discussions are continuing and commitments, including additional Operational Mentor Liason Teams, cannot yet be made, mostly due to budgetary constraints. SILVERMAN