Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STOCKHOLM162
2009-03-06 15:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Stockholm
Cable title:
SWEDEN APPOINTS U.S.-FRIENDLY SUPREME COMMANDER
how-toVZCZCXRO2360 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSM #0162 0651556 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 061556Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4199 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000162
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PGOV PINR PREL SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN APPOINTS U.S.-FRIENDLY SUPREME COMMANDER
UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000162
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PGOV PINR PREL SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN APPOINTS U.S.-FRIENDLY SUPREME COMMANDER
1. On March 6, Lieutenant General Sverker Goranson was appointed
the next Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces. Currently,
the 54-year-old Goranson is Director of the Joint Staff, making him
in principle the chief aide of current Supreme Commander Hakan
Syrn. Goranson will take over March 25. Syrn leaves his post to
be the new chair of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) in
December 2009. Goranson's experience serving abroad was an
important factor for his appointment. He was head of the Swedish
force in Bosnia in the 90's, and Deputy Defense Attach at the
Swedish Embassy in Washington D.C. 2000-2003. Goranson has a degree
in engineering and a BA in psychology and sociology. He studied at
the Military Academy in Karlberg, at the Armed Forces Staff and War
College, and the National Defense College. He also studied at the
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and took the UN Staff
Officer Course.
2. The government's final choice stood between Goranson and
Lieutenant General Mats Nilsson, who has served in the Ministry of
Defense since 2007 as head of military affairs. The post has
previously been seen as the last step on the road to becoming
Supreme Commander, and was the position held by Syrn before he
became Sweden's highest ranking military official. But unlike
Nilsson, Goranson had experience serving abroad, something which has
grown in importance as the Swedish military has taken on more
foreign missions.
SILVERMAN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR PGOV PINR PREL SW
SUBJECT: SWEDEN APPOINTS U.S.-FRIENDLY SUPREME COMMANDER
1. On March 6, Lieutenant General Sverker Goranson was appointed
the next Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces. Currently,
the 54-year-old Goranson is Director of the Joint Staff, making him
in principle the chief aide of current Supreme Commander Hakan
Syrn. Goranson will take over March 25. Syrn leaves his post to
be the new chair of the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) in
December 2009. Goranson's experience serving abroad was an
important factor for his appointment. He was head of the Swedish
force in Bosnia in the 90's, and Deputy Defense Attach at the
Swedish Embassy in Washington D.C. 2000-2003. Goranson has a degree
in engineering and a BA in psychology and sociology. He studied at
the Military Academy in Karlberg, at the Armed Forces Staff and War
College, and the National Defense College. He also studied at the
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and took the UN Staff
Officer Course.
2. The government's final choice stood between Goranson and
Lieutenant General Mats Nilsson, who has served in the Ministry of
Defense since 2007 as head of military affairs. The post has
previously been seen as the last step on the road to becoming
Supreme Commander, and was the position held by Syrn before he
became Sweden's highest ranking military official. But unlike
Nilsson, Goranson had experience serving abroad, something which has
grown in importance as the Swedish military has taken on more
foreign missions.
SILVERMAN